210. The Hidden Visual Processing Problem Affecting Language in Autism

If you work with children with autism, developmental delays, or complex communication needs, this episode is a must-listen. Today, we’re talking about cerebral visual impairment, or CVI, and why it may be one of the most overlooked reasons children struggle with communication, attention, social interaction, AAC use, and motor-based learning. This episode is not about whether a child can see an item on an eye chart. It is about how the brain processes visual information and how that affects language, participation, and learning. In this episode, I share 10 practical strategies from the literature that speech-language pathologists and speech-language pathology assistants can use right now to better support children with visual processing challenges. We discuss why reducing clutter matters, how to make materials more visually accessible, why movement activates learning, and how active task-based therapy can improve visual-motor integration. You’ll learn: -Why is cortical visual impairment increasingly referred to as cerebral visual impairment -How CVI affects communication and social development -What visual complexity does to learning -Why movement is critical for visual engagement -How to adjust therapy and AAC supports for better outcomes Join the SIS Membership for ready-to-use literacy-based, movement-based activities that help you put these ideas into practice right away: https://www.kellyvess.com/sis Featured article: Wilkinson, K. M., Elko, L. R., Elko, E., McCarty, T. V., Sowers, D. J., Blackstone, S., & Roman-Lantzy, C. (2023). An evidence-based approach to augmentative and alternative communication design for individuals with cortical visual impairment. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32, 1939–1960. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00397 Thank you for being with me at today’s intervention drawing board for a better tomorrow,💚Kelly