Behavior and Communication in Kids with Autism: 5 Tips to Help Minimize Behavior and Improve Communication Skills
1. Develop a consistent schedule:
Individuals with autism like routine. Create a spot in your house where you can put a daily schedule up. The schedule can consist of pictures, words, or both, all you need to do is make it at the level that your child can understand.
2. Implement the 20 second rule:
It can take up to 20 seconds for a child with autism to process what you are saying.
If you say, “let’s clean up and then sit down for snack”.
“What do you want for a drink, milk or water?…
(no response after 5 seconds)
“What would you like? Milk or water?…
(no response after a few more seconds)
“Milk??”
Water??”
You may be at the point of asking them what kind of drink they want, but they are still processing that you told them to go clean their room.
Trust me, I struggle with waiting because it feels awkward, but you would be amazed that it will increase their ability to answer your question because they are better able to filter out the important details.
3. Be direct:
Don’t be afraid to say it how you see it. We typically talk in an indirect way and for a lot of us we have a hard time being direct in our communication style because it feels ‘not right’. However, our students and children with autism need explicit instruction and teaching on what EXACTLY to do, down to the small minute details that we think are a given.
4. Use Visuals:
Behavior happens a lot when there is a communication breakdown and a lack of understanding and not necessarily just to be ‘naughty’. Provide a picture of what you are asking your child to do. You can even provide a picture for each step in the sequence. For example, if your child is having a hard time brushing their teeth, provide a picture for each step and go over it with them prior to brushing their teeth. You can search for ‘social stories’ and you may find some already created ones online.
5. Reach out!
There are many services for children with autism and many times insurance covers the cost of the therapy. Some options are:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Working with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
As always, your dedicated SLP,
Dayna Sanders, MA, CCC-SLP
