Navigating Therapy for High-Functioning Autism in San Antonio: A Parent’s Guide
- Sergio Rodriguez, OTR, MOT
- Dec 10, 2025
- 4 min read
Raising a child with high-functioning autism comes with both beautiful strengths and very real challenges. As a parent, you’re constantly trying to figure out what your child needs most—at home, at school, and in their relationships. And when you start searching for therapy for high functioning autism in San Antonio, the options can feel overwhelming.
You might be asking:
What type of therapy does my child really need?
Do we start with speech, OT, or all of the above?
Will therapy actually help my child long-term?
You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. This guide walks you through the most common therapy options for children on the autism spectrum, how each one helps, and how to decide what’s right for your child.
Key Takeaways for Parents
Understanding high-functioning autism within autism spectrum disorder helps you choose the right therapy
Early identification of symptoms leads to better outcomes
Occupational therapy, speech therapy, and social skills training all offer targeted support
Sensory issues, anxiety, feeding challenges, and motor skills delays can all be addressed through therapy
Family involvement and the right support system make a huge difference
Understanding High-Functioning Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder
High-functioning autism is not a medical diagnosis, but it’s a term many families and schools use to describe children with autism who:
Use spoken language
Have average or above-average intelligence
Can manage many daily routines independently
At the same time, they may still struggle with:
Social and communication skills
Emotional regulation
Sensory issues
Executive functioning
Anxiety
Rigid behaviors and routines
That’s the reality of autism spectrum disorder—it looks different in every child. Some children show significant challenges early on, while others may not struggle until school and social demands increase. Understanding where your child falls on the autism spectrum helps guide the right treatment and services.
Early autism diagnosis and early treatment allow us to build on your child’s strengths while supporting areas that feel hard.
Identifying Symptoms and Early Signs in Children
Parents often notice the first signs before anyone else. Some early symptoms of high-functioning autism may include:
Delayed speech or unusual speech patterns
Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation
Strong emotional reactions or difficulty calming down
Strict routines and distress with change
Repetitive behaviors
Sensory sensitivities to sound, textures, or lights
Trouble with peer interactions and social skills
These symptoms don’t mean something is “wrong” with your child—but they do tell us what kind of support and therapy may be helpful.
Speech Therapy and Communication Development
Speech therapy supports both verbal and non-verbal communication for individuals with autism.
Even children who talk a lot may still struggle with:
Conversation skills
Understanding social language
Fluency or stuttering
Voice regulation
Pragmatic (social) language
At Pediatric Constellations in San Antonio, Rosa Benavides, M.S. CCC-SLP, specializes in:
Speech and language therapy
Fluency and stuttering
Social skills development
Oral-myofunctional therapy
Autism-centered communication support
Speech therapy strengthens your child’s ability to express ideas, understand others, and feel confident socially—skills that directly impact mental health and long-term independence.
Occupational Therapy for High-Functioning Autism
Occupational therapy goes far beyond fine motor work. OT supports the everyday “job” of being a child: learning, playing, regulating emotions, feeding, and participating in daily routines.
In our San Antonio clinic, Sergio Rodriguez, OTR, MOT, specializes in:
Sensory integration
Feeding therapy
Reflex integration
Emotional regulation
Executive functioning
Self-care and independence skills
Children with autism may struggle with:
Sensory overload at school
Picky eating and limited diets
Poor body awareness and motor planning
Fatigue with handwriting and classroom tasks
Anxiety during transitions
OT builds:
Fine motor skills
Motor skills
Emotional regulation tools
Sensory processing strategies
Daily living skills
The goal is independence—not perfection.
Social Skills Training: Supporting Peer Relationships
Many autistic children are very bright but struggle with:
Reading body language
Starting conversations
Maintaining friendships
Problem-solving with peers
Understanding social rules
Targeted social skills therapy helps children practice these skills in real-life situations using modeling, role-play, and guided interaction. These skills are critical for long-term success in school, relationships, and mental health.
Feeding Therapy, Sensory Issues, and Anxiety
Feeding challenges are extremely common in children with autism, even those who are highly verbal and academically strong. Texture aversions, gagging, anxiety around food, and extremely limited diets are all signs that feeding therapy may help.
OT-based feeding therapy supports:
Oral motor coordination
Sensory tolerance
Expansion of accepted foods
Reduced anxiety at mealtimes
Sensory issues are also closely tied to anxiety, emotional regulation, and behaviors. Treating sensory processing at the nervous system level makes other therapies more effective.
Collaborating With Schools and Educators
Your child’s therapy should directly connect with their school environment. Collaboration between therapists, teachers, and parents helps support:
IEPs and 504 plans
Classroom accommodations
Behavior supports
Sensory strategies
Social goals
This teamwork allows your child to generalize skills across environments.
Therapy for High-Functioning Autism in San Antonio: How We Help
At Pediatric Constellations, we take a whole-child approach to autism therapy. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all programs. We believe in:
Individualized care
Play-based learning
Family education
Real-life skill development
Our Specialties Include:
Occupational Therapy (sensory, feeding, reflex integration)
Speech Therapy (social communication, fluency, oral-myofunctional therapy)
Autism-informed care
Anxiety-aware support
Neuro-affirming approach
If your child with autism needs support with regulation, communication, feeding, sensory processing, or daily independence, we’re here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is high-functioning autism?
It refers to people with autism who demonstrate strong thinking and communication skills but still experience challenges in social interaction, sensory processing, anxiety, and behaviors.
Is therapy still helpful if my child is older?
Yes. Therapy is effective at all ages when goals are meaningful and developmentally appropriate.
How often does my child need therapy?
Frequency varies, but many families choose 1–2 sessions per week depending on goals.
Do you work with ADHD and anxiety too?
Yes. Many children on the spectrum also have ADHD and anxiety, and our therapy approach supports both.
Ready to Start Therapy in San Antonio?
If you’re looking for therapy for high functioning autism in San Antonio, we’d love to support your family.
📍 Pediatric Constellations – San Antonio, TX
👨⚕️ Sergio Rodriguez, OTR/L – Feeding, Sensory, Reflex Integration
👩⚕️ Rosa Benavides, M.S. CCC-SLP – Speech, Fluency, Social Skills, Autism