How to build communication skills with Autistic children | URevolution

How to build communication skills with Autistic children

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Sanikan Wattanawongwan, Texas A&M University and J. Ganz, Texas A&M University

How to build communication skills with Autistic children

We areΒ researchersΒ whoΒ coach parentsΒ toΒ communicate with children with disabilities.

Here are five strategies families can use to help build communication skills with Autistic children, along with examples of how to use them.

Autism affects an estimatedΒ 1 in 59 childrenΒ nationwide.

1. Motivate the child to communicate

Create opportunities for your child toΒ practice communication skills. Show your child one of their favorite items and encourage your child to ask for it. Children are more likely to be engaged and communicate when activities are based on their interests. Compliment your child when they communicate. For instance, say β€œthat’s a good question!” or β€œgood job asking me for help!”

Delicia, whose 3-year-old child, Pacho, has minimal verbal skills, motivates her child to speak by placing a cookie in a jar. Pacho can see the cookie but he cannot get it by himself. He has to ask for it. After Delicia teaches him how to ask for it, she will give him the cookie and praise him by saying β€œGood job telling me.”

2. Model communication skills

Model communication skillsΒ by speaking, using gestures and facial expressions. Your child will imitate them. While modeling, sit near your child and respond to the child’s imitation with praise for using the new skill.

Pacho cannot open the cookie jar, so he hands the jar to Delicia. Delicia models by saying β€œCookies, please” or β€œOpen, please.”

For children on the autism spectrum with nonverbal communication or who haveΒ complex communication needs, consider using a tool, called anΒ augmentative and alternative communicationΒ device, to supplement their speech.

This kind of communication can be low-tech, such as exchangingΒ picturesΒ to communicate. Or, it can be as high-tech as a communication app on a tablet.

Archie, a 10-year-old on the autism spectrum who cannot yet speak, screams when asked to eat vegetables. His father places the vegetables on his dish and his mother models pressing an icon on an app to say, β€œNo, thank you,” and waiting for his response. The mother also says β€œNo, thank you” to give him a verbal model and waits for his response.



Read more:Β Hiring an autistic employee: here are five practical tips for getting it right

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3. Prompt the child to use new communication skills

Prompt new communication skillsΒ by using verbal, visual, or physical guidance.

Fabiana, Archie’s mom, physically prompts him to use the communication device by holding his hand to press the β€œNo, thank you” icon on hisΒ app. Then, Fabiana takes away the vegetables and immediately offers something he likes.

4. Allow the child to communicate independently

Slowly remove the promptsΒ so children don’t become dependent on them. You can do this byΒ waitingΒ one or two seconds before using a prompt in order to give the child an opportunity to communicate independently.

After Pacho requests cookies several times, Delicia waits for one second before using modeling or prompting strategies. Delicia will periodically increase the time delay by one or two seconds until finding a delay that encourages independent responding.

Archie says β€œNo, thank you,” with the app when Fabiana prompts him, so she starts waiting for one second before using modeling or prompting. Fabiana will increase the time delay by one or two seconds each day.

5. Expand and generalize to other people, settings, and activities

Using modeling and prompting strategies toΒ add new wordsΒ to phrases the children have already mastered.

When Pacho can independently ask for cookies by saying β€œCookies, please” several times, Delicia teaches him a new word by adding β€œWant cookies, please.”

When Archie can independently use the communication app to say β€œNo, thank you,” several times, Fabiana teaches him a new word by adding β€œNo carrot, thank you.”

Use these strategies during your children’s everyday activities, such as brushing their teeth, having lunch, going to the park or riding in a car.

To help build communication skills with Autistic children it is essential to use these strategies with different people and in different settings consistently over time.

Sanikan Wattanawongwan, Graduate Research Assistant,Β Texas A&M UniversityΒ andΒ J. Ganz, Professor of Special Education, Autism & DD,Β Texas A&M University
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Caption:

Children are more likely to be engaged and communicate when activities are based on their interests.

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