Help With Autism - Communicating With Your Child

So, how do you communicate effectively?
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Communication can be difficult for people with autism.

They can take things very literally, with sayings, double meanings
or jokes in speech often being confusing for them.

So when speaking to someone with autism it's best to avoid using
figures of speech...

Phrases like "apple of your eye" or 'cute as button' can cause
confusion as they may be taken literally.

The key is to speak slowly and clearly explaining in simple terms
what you want or the action you desire them to do.

This doesn't mean you should talk down to them, rather its about
choosing your words carefully. Avoiding the following will help with
understanding and reduce the risk of losing their attention:

- Sarcasm
- Irony
- Long, involved explanations

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Removing the barriers
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It's not uncommon for people with autism to have a good ear for
differing tones.

This can mean that spoken language is better understood if it is
sung to them.

Try making up songs that include instructions about teeth cleaning,
tidying their room, and doing homework or whatever tasks you wish.

Most people with autism struggle with the usual 'give and take' of
conversation and will often concentrate on one topic and talk
exclusively about that topic without giving anyone else a chance to
contribute.

Body language is another area that can cause problems with
communication.

Although we may not consciously realize it, we rely heavily on body
language during verbal communication.

Without the ability to interpret facial expressions and bodily
gestures understanding can be impaired.

This can lead to feelings of frustration or confusion which can be
demonstrated by outbursts, walking away or simply grabbing what they
want as they couldn't make their needs understood.

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Get creative
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Many people with autism are highly visual and often understand
pictures better than words.

Try using pictures or photos to express ideas and instructions.

An important point to remember with communication is that it 'takes
two'.

Therefore rather than viewing your child as having a communication
disorder it can be helpful to see the difficulties you may have
getting through to your child as 'disordered communication'.

By adopting this viewpoint it removes any blame and can help you
work towards a place where communication becomes easier.

If you are interested to find out more about how to more effectively
communicate with your child and discover if you're getting through
to them, visit this website:

www.Essential-Guide-to-Autism.com