Tips to Help Your Child with Autism Speak - Advice From a Speech Therapist

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Speak without any expectation
When we want to teach a child to talk, we often try to bother him until he’d actually talk. That’s why some parents say that a child is “too lazy” to talk because it requires so much effort to get a sound out of the child! Stop doing that and speak with no expectation for him to repeat what you say. A child will speak when it makes sense, and also ready to do so. In most cases, the child won’t say the words because he’s not entirely sure how to go about it. If we push them to talk, it does get pretty stressful. Imagine being forced to do something you’re not very good at every day, you’d probably not enjoy interacting with the person who does that to you.

If you do have to ask a child to repeat after you, make sure you have a reward. It doesn’t need to be a snack or something unnatural, it could be a routine, an activity or toys. Check out our channel for more videos on building routines.

Fewer questions and quizzing
When you ask questions, it’s a prompt and children who are on the spectrum might learn that they should respond only when you ask. That’s why you see the passiveness. To break this, avoid using questions or quizzing to get your child. Instead, describe what you see and what you hope for her to say. Using gestures is a better way to cue speech, but in the long run, whatever cue or prompt you use must be faded out. Then you will truly see the initiative to verbally communicate with you.

Start with easier ways of communicating first
If speaking is too difficult, find a middle step for her to try. This includes PECS (picture exchange communication system), sign language or any other AAC (alternative augmentative communication) methods. However, if your child can voice out some sounds, you can make the words easier, taking away some sounds and accepting those as the correct word can help your child to have more confidence. Slowly increase the difficulty and keep on reminding the word. If you need more help, join our micro-course for parents (link above).