AAC – Augmentative and Alternative Communication includes all forms of communication other than oral speech that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC when we make facial expressions or gestures, use symbols or pictures, or write. People with severe speech or language problems rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or replace speech that is not functional. Special augmentative aids, such as picture and symbol communication boards and electronic devices, are available to help people express themselves. This may increase social interaction, school performance, and feelings of self-worth. Research has shown the use of AAC often increases the use of verbalizations by the AAC user.
Counseling – Social workers are knowledgeable about a child’s emotional and social development. Our therapists facilitate the development of positive strong relationships, self -esteem, emotional regulation and learning. Social workers are accessible to work with the entire family based on identified needs.
Educational supports – Team Autism Memphis clinicians are available to train school staff, attend IEP meetings, collaborate with families in reviewing IEP’s and developing goals based on current therapeutic interventions
Feeding Therapy – Feeding challenges affect individuals of all ages for a variety of different reasons. Eating is a highly complex act, relying on the respiratory, postural, oral-motor, and sensory systems of the body to work in harmony. Challenges in any one of these areas may disrupt the timing and coordination of the body’s overall ability to eat and drink. This disruption can result in an individual who experiences challenges in eating and sees mealtimes as an unpleasant job, rather than as an enjoyable experience.
Nutrition – A Registered Dietitian or sometimes called a nutritionist, is available to consult with families to determine nutritional needs based on medical diagnosis, lab results, GI function, and specific feeding needs. Nutritionists design nutrition programs to protect health, prevent allergic reactions and alleviate the symptoms of many types of disease.
Occupational Therapy – Occupational therapists are specialists in assessing and developing treatment programs that support the development of movement, sensory processing, play, and learning. Specific areas looked at during an evaluation include: fine motor skills, gross motor skills, strength, balance and coordination, visual motor/perceptual skills, feeding/self-care skills and sensory processing skills. Treatment sessions focus on a child’s “occupation”, or daily activities, and include activities that support learning, socializing, and most importantly play.
PROMPT – Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets is a tactile-kinesthetic approach that uses touch cues to a patient’s articulators (jaw, tongue, lips) to manually guide movements through a targeted word, phrase, or sentence. The technique develops motor control and correct oral muscular movements while also eliminating unnecessary muscle movements such as jaw sliding. PROMPT uses a holistic intervention plan that addresses not only speech-motor problems but also cognitive-linguistic and social-emotional disorders that may affect speech. PROMPT therapy is appropriate for a wide range of patients with communication disorders, including children and adults. The most common patients include those with motor speech disorders, articulation problems, and non-verbal children. Many patients with aphasia, apraxia/dyspraxia, dysarthria, pervasive developmental disorders, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries, and Autism Spectrum Disorders have benefited from PROMPT therapy.
Speech and Language Therapy – A comprehensive therapy program is designed from the therapist’s interpretation of evaluation(s) and individual profiles. The customized program is designed to meet each client’s individual needs. Objectives of therapy most often focus on improving receptive and expressive language abilities, pragmatic language, articulation skills, and pre-literacy enhancement.
Specialized DIR/Floortime Intensive Intervention – Team Autism Memphis brings to Germantown national experts to collaborate with families and clinicians. Intensive intervention is typically completed over a week’s period of time with 2 treatment sessions a day, and involves both the child and parent(s). At the final treatment session local clinicians work with the child, family and expert to set new goals and determine a course of treatment.
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