Autism (ASD) is often thought of when people hear about a nonverbal child. Nonverbal children with ASD are common, but there are also many other diseases and conditions, long-term and short-term, that can cause children to be nonverbal, preverbal, or have emerging verbal skills or delayed verbal skills. Different speech and language disorders, such as non-verbal learning disabilities and childhood speech apraxia, can affect the ability to learn.
Speaking with your nonverbal child is still important, even if communication does not always involve spoken words. There is a wide range of ways in which children respond to communication. Utilize what works best for your child, and make sure you use it on a regular basis.
What Should You Know About Communicating With Children With Nonverbal Autism Spectrum Disorders?
You should keep these things in mind if you have a child with nonverbal autism spectrum disorder:
- It is not always necessary to speak in order to communicate.
- Crying, grunting, and sighing are all forms of communication your child may be using.
- ASD affects each child differently. Due to this, various communication efforts are responded to differently by each child. To communicate effectively, you must find a way that works for both of you.
- Discuss your child’s communication strategy with his or her teachers, and therapists if he or she is part of any special education program.
Strategies To Help A Non-verbal Child To Speak
It’s important to keep in mind that every individual with autism is unique. There is no guarantee that a strategy will work for every child or teenager, even with tremendous effort. It’s important to note that even though people with autism are capable of communicating, it’s not always through spoken language. A non-verbal child can be helped to speak by following these top strategies:
- Engage in social and play activities
- You can imitate your child
- Make nonverbal communication a priority
- Give your child space to talk
- Don’t use complicated words
- Observe what your child is interested in
- Provide visual support and assistive devices
Engage in social and play activities
Play is an important part of children’s learning, and language is no exception. Communication between you and your child is made easier through interactive play. Play a variety of games with your child to find out what they enjoy. Engage in play-based social interaction activities as well. To make it easier for your child to see and hear you, position yourself towards your child’s eye level during your interactions.
You can imitate your child
If you mimic your child’s sounds and play behaviors, you will encourage more vocalization and interaction between you and your child. You can also encourage your child to take turns and copy you. When your child is playing, make sure you imitate what they’re doing, so long as it’s a positive action.
Make nonverbal communication a priority
In order to build a foundation for language, gestures and eye contact are crucial. Model and respond to these behaviors with your child. Make your gestures as big as you can. Communicate with both your voice and your body. Make gestures that your child can easily imitate. Observe your child’s gestures and respond accordingly. Play with their toys when they point to them or look at them. If you want to pick up a toy, point to it before you take it.
Give your child space to talk
In the absence of a child’s immediate response, we naturally fill in language. Even if your child does not speak, it’s so important to give him or her many opportunities to communicate. You should pause for several seconds while looking expectantly at your child before asking them a question. Keep an eye out for any sounds or movement of the body and respond as soon as possible. If you respond promptly to your child, he or she will feel the power of communication.
Don’t use complicated words
You can help your child understand what you’re saying by doing so. As a result, they will be able to imitate your speech more easily. Try to speak mostly in single words if your child is nonverbal. Don’t stop your child from speaking single words if he or she is speaking single words. Keep your sentences short. Follow this rule at all times. When using phrases, use one more word than your child is using.
Observe what your child is interested in
By following along with words instead of interrupting, you will encourage your child to focus. As your child does something, narrate it using the one-up rule. You can help your child learn vocabulary by talking about what they enjoy.
Provide visual support and assistive devices
It is possible to use assistive technologies and visual supports in addition to speech in order to improve independence. Its development can be facilitated by them. Children can produce words by touching devices and apps with pictures. Using pictures and groups of pictures as visual supports can help your child communicate ideas and requests.
How Is ACNS Helping Children With Autism?
AutismCare Nepal Society (ACNS) was established on 2nd of April, 2008, with a motive of helping children with autism and their families to protect and promote their rights. Since then, ACNS have been doing a lot to help the children with autism to grow, as well as their families. Many different kinds of therapies are available at ACNS, which helps the children to try different things and learn in an effective manner.