Urgent care is often the first line of defense for a family with someone on the autism spectrum when unplanned medical treatment is necessary.
Parents understand just how frustrating it can be for their child to receive proper medical attention from a professional who fully understands Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Now that many speech-language pathologist clients have been forced to transition to teletherapy (or telepractice) many clients are finding they want to keep doing teletherapy in tandem with in-person services due to how it makes their lives so much easier. There are a lot of benefits for speech-language pathologists as well.
Many people who need a wide variety of medical and therapeutic services and have been restricted by stay at home orders or other restrictions to protect their own health or that of others. While teletherapy is not going to be the best choice for every client, moving forward it is important for speech-language pathologists to consider how telepractice fits into their plan for the future. Many clients will want a combination of in-person services and teletherapy or might at times have teletherapy be their only option.
Research shows that emergency department visits are 30 percent higher for children who have ASD and 70 percent higher for teens between 15 to 18 years old with ASD. For diagnosed adults, their ED encounters are twice as high as adults without ASD.
The emergency room (ER) is often a place of stress for most people. However, this stress skyrockets for those diagnosed with ASD.
The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs in 2009-10 found that “caregivers of children with ASD were more likely to report difficulty utilizing services, lack of shared decision making and care coordination, and adverse family impact as compared to caregivers of children with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or both.”Â
People on the autism spectrum visit emergency departments far more often than the typical person, and their care is typically inefficient and often ineffective. A trip to the Emergency Department (ED) isn’t fun for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
How do speech language pathologists make sure their professional opinion is valued and respected when they gain an extra area of expertise?
As a speech-language pathologist, obtaining continuing education units (CEUs) is an important part of staying relevant and credible and keeping up with ASHA requirements. SLP CEUs allow you to continue refining your skills, become an expert in your field, and shape yourself as a well-rounded, professional who will stand out from the rest of the market.
The staff at Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center (JSHC), a Jacksonville-based nonprofit therapy center, has recently completed the Board Certified Telepractice Specialist program through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
Schenectady, NY (June 4, 2020) – The Emergency Department at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY, is the first in the nation to earn the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation, granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).
The demand for speech-language pathologists that can give quality teletherapy has gone from a few early adopters to a wide portion of the therapy population almost overnight with stay at home orders and other precautions.
 Now that many clients have been forced to make the jump to teletherapy, they are starting to consider whether or not coming in for regular therapy needs to happen every time when there’s a plethora of advantages to the client of why teletherapy is a good option and treatment outcomes have been shown to be very similar.
People on the autism spectrum visit emergency departments far more often than the average person and usually get worse service and outcomes.
Individuals with autism are largely given the same treatment as everyone else despite their sensory and perceptual differences, which typically leads to predictably bad outcomes for both the patients and the Emergency Departments, potentially endangering lives.
Happiness Therapy Center has become a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC), a designation granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)to organizations whose staff have completed autism-specific training and certification program through IBCCES.
