Using plastic letters can help your autistic child learn language.
Autism is a developmental disability that usually presents itself within the first two years of life. The disorder impacts a number of developmental areas such as creativity or communication, both verbal and nonverbal. Communication problems vary from child to child; some autistic children are completely nonverbal, while others may speak a great deal. Those children that do speak often say things without context or content. Speech and language can be taught to autistic children, though it will probably not be to a normal ability level.
Instructions
1. Structure your day with a strict activity schedule. Children with autism need to have a day they can anticipate. Changes in schedule will often upset your child and will cause him to shut down. Schedule lessons at the same time each day.
2. Find a good study area. Some autistic children are incredibly sensitive to sound, so you'll want to find the quietest section of the house to work in. Other autistic children can see the flickering of fluorescent lights. Find a room where there is plenty of natural light so the flickering will not distract your child.
3. Demonstrate words with actions or pictures. Most autistic children are visual thinkers as opposed to auditory thinkers. If you want your child to learn words, use flash cards where there is a picture of the word or action you want her to use so she can associate visual action with auditory sounds. Acting out the word is also another method of teaching vocabulary.
4. Encourage your child to draw or do another kind of art to help learn verbal behaviors. Since most autistic children are often very artistically talented, an art project will speed learning along. Ask your child to draw the word you want him to learn.
5. Teach letters to your child by touch. Some autistic children respond better to new concepts when they can feel and handle objects associated with that concept. This is especially true of older children. Buy plastic letters and give your child each letter to hold as you teach it.
6. Respond immediately when the autistic child uses language. Sometimes autistic children do not readily understand the connection between language and communication. If your child says "cup," respond by giving her a cup. This will teach her that her words will have an impact on those around her, and can be used to get basic needs fulfilled.
7. Turn on closed captioning while watching TV. Sometimes closed captioning can help autistic children learn read by matching the printed word with the verbal cue.
8. Teach your child sign language if they are nonverbal or do not show signs of improvement with other language learning. Some nonverbal children find making gestures easier than stating words because it is a visual mode of communication.
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