Children with autism find it difficult to communicate with others verbally and socially. Every individual on the autistic spectrum is unique and abilities to communicate may vary considerably. Some people are nonverbal which means that they cannot use speech to express themselves. Processing language can also be a major problem as well as knowing when to join in on a conversation or when to stop talking. They may also find it tough to regulate the speed, volume, and intonation of their speech. Interpreting body language and facial expressions can be hard as well as understanding whether a statement is a joke or not.
By considering these simple strategies you can help to improve and increase your child’s ability to communicate:
Speak slower as your child may need more time to process what you have said.
Give your child time to respond before assuming that they have not heard you.
Use shorter sentences
Simplify your language as much as possible
Encourage your child to copy your movements and actions
Encourage social skills with joint attention games such as rolling a ball on the floor to each other or playing row, row your boat
Go with your child’s interests and use this as a springboard to teach other communication skills. If your child is rolling a toy train, you can roll it fast/slow demonstrating this with the toy accentuating the key words as you do this
Use nonverbal communication to support what you are saying such as gestures and signs. Exaggerate your words and actions and pay attention to your body movements and eye contact.
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