During my son’s therapy session, I talked to some parents who have autistic non-verbal child about their strategies and way to encourage their children to talk. Since each person with autism is unique so the strategy that work with one child may not work with another. However, some parents, share with me some of their ways to encourage their children to speak.
Here are some ways to encourage their non-verbal child to talk:
- Boost play and social interaction. Most children learn things during play such as learning language. Interactive play games may provide opportunities to a child to communicate. Singing nursery song and reciting nursery rhymes may promote social skills.
- Imitate your child. Copying child’s sounds and play behaviors will increase more vocalizing and interaction. Also, it encourages a child to copy you and take turns. Imitate how your child is playing during positive behavior.
- Shorten and simplify your language. It helps your child to follow your instruction and make easier to imitate your speech.
- Leave a space for your child to speak or talk. Give your child an opportunities to communicate even if he is not talking.
- Give emphasis on nonverbal communication. Eye contact and gesture can be a foundation for language. Use your body and voice when communicating like for instance, you can use your hands to point when you say look and nodding your head when you say yes.
- Consider using devices and visual supports. Some technologies and visual supports can do more than take the place of speech such as apps with pictures that your child touches and produce words.