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
Dustin's Dynasty 