It is helpful to think of ASD as an information processing disorder. Allow enough time for both sharing information and understanding information.

COMMUNICATING MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH YOUR CHILD:

• Slow down when speaking with your child.
• Wait to give the child enough time to understand and respond.
• Replace long, complex sentences with short, simple sentences.
• Stress key words.
• Use visual cues, gestures, pictures, and physical prompts to help your child understand.
• When using spoken directions, make them simple and clear.
• Be consistent by using the same words and phrases.

HELPING YOUR CHILD COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY:

• Teach communication in the context of everyday activities.
• Provide lots of opportunities for communication practice throughout the day.
• Arrange the environment to create the need for your child to communicate.
• Reduce stressful speaking situations. Work to avoid:
  • Frequent interruptions
  • Loss of listener attention
  • Frequent questions
  • Excitement when speaking
  • Competition for speaking opportunities