Tips For Talking To Kids With Autism
Handling Aggressive Behavior in Children with Autism
Since one of the classic symptoms of autism is a marked deficit in verbal communication abilities, a common problem for applied behavior analysts and others who work with children and even adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder is simply being able to carry on a basic conversation. Something as simple as finding out what they want for lunch or whether or not they are happy or sad or indifferent about their current school assignment can be nearly impossible to find out if you rely on normal conversational methods. But dont let that stop you! There are ways to have conversations with autistic kids and you can make them easier by keeping the following tips in mind. Make Directions Clear Short And ConcreteFor example, if your child is throwing food at the table say, eat your food rather than Be good at the table, Dont throw your food or Would you stop with that! You are always throwing your food. For children with difficulty understanding language, showing them a picture or a visual demonstration of the behavior you want to see, can be helpful. Speech Therapy For Nonverbal ToddlersSpeech-language pathologists can really help children with their language and speech problems. They will first assess the best way to approach the situation. Here are a couple of techniques used during speech therapy for toddlers:
In speech therapy, the social communication and behaviors of the child are modified. Caregivers and parents are also included in the process to create an approach best suited for the child. Certain techniques and combinations of them will be used in these sessions. Read Also: How To Calm Down Autistic Kid Autism In The Classroom: How To Handle Behavior ChallengesChildren with autism typically use behaviors to communicate their wants, needs, anxieties, and frustrations. These behaviors can include:
While behaviors are important communication tools, some behaviors can disrupt learning in a classroom setting. Various interventions teach children with autism new skills that help them develop acceptable ways to communicate, socialize, and function. Emotion Regulation And Coping SkillsIn general, children with autism have difficulty with emotion regulation. This skill set involves recognizing an emotional state or feeling that is occurring, being able to evaluate the outcome of reacting to the emotion, and moving forward by reacting and being able to cope with any negative feelings associated with the situation. Children with autism often have difficulty with planning and judgment skills and therefore, emotion regulation can be challenging. In addition, being able to seek out appropriate coping skills when encountering an intense emotion is another skill set that can be tricky for children with autism. When regulating emotions and subsequently utilizing coping skills is a challenge, anger and aggression are common behaviors. Here are some of our best tips for helping kids with autism address emotion regulation and coping skills:
It is important to note that a child is likely to be most successful when they are given the right tools or vocabulary to address what they are feeling internally. Also Check: What Was Your Autistic Child Like As A Baby Listen To The ParentsJust as you surround a child with autism with acceptance, do the same for parents. Your support could mean the world to them. Advocates explain that parents would love a night off to decompress and get away. If you feel comfortable with the idea, offer to babysit. If you don’t, provide a listening ear to a parent in need. Schedule a regular coffee date for decompression and chatter, or set up play dates between your children while you both supervise. Theres A Difference Between Forcing Behaviors And Encouraging IndependenceIve learned from experience that trying to force independence is counterintuitive, whether or not your child has autism. When we push a child, especially one prone to anxiety and rigidity, their natural instinct is to dig their heels in and hold on tighter. When we force a child to face their fears, and I mean screaming-on-the-floor petrified, like Whitney Ellenby, the mother who wanted her son with autism to see Elmo, we arent actually helping them. If I was forced into a room full of spiders, I would probably be able to detach from my brain at some point to cope after about 40 hours of screaming. That doesnt mean I had some kind of breakthrough or success in facing my fears. I also assume Id store those traumas and theyd invariably be triggered later in my life. Of course, pushing independence isnt always as extreme as the Elmo scenario or a room full of spiders. All of this pushing falls on a spectrum ranging from encouraging a hesitant child to physically forcing them into a scenario that has their brain screaming danger. When we let our children get comfortable at their own pace and they finally take that step of their own volition, true confidence and security grows. That said, I understand where the Elmo mom was coming from. We know our kids would enjoy whatever activity if they would just try it. We want them to feel joy. We want them to be brave and full of confidence. We want them to fit in because we know what rejection feels like. You May Like: What Is Occupational Therapy For Autism Causes Of Anxiety And MeltdownsUnlike their typical peers, few autistic children “throw fits” in order to garner more attention or to get a desired outcome . In most cases, autistic children react to physical or emotional stress without any particular agenda; they are simply expressing feelings of excitement, frustration, or anxiety or responding to sensory assaults. The reality is that children with autism, in general, may have less control over their emotions than their typical peers; as a result, emotional explosions are more common. It’s not always easy for a neurotypical parent to predict or even recognize situations likely to upset a child with autism. Ordinary changes in a daily routine such as a detour on the way to school can be terribly upsetting to some autistic children . Odors such as the smell of fresh paint can be a sensory assault. Even the fluorescent lights at the grocery store can be overwhelming to certain individuals. At the same time, however, any individual child may react differently to the same situation from day to day. An overwhelming stressor on Tuesday can be experienced as background noise on Thursday. In general, it’s possible to predict at least some stressors and minimize them. For example:
Diagnosis Of Nonverbal Autism
How to Handle an Autism Tantrum | Autism
There is no specific single test that determines nonverbal autism. A multi-phase process is conducted to diagnose the disorder. When your child is at the pediatrician, they will be the first healthcare providers to assess for ASD. Parents and caregivers will sound their concerns to their doctor if they notice any symptoms. The pediatrician then could request various tests to rule out other possible causes for the concerning symptoms. They may conduct physical examinations, blood tests, and MRI or CT scan imagings. Pediatricians then refer your child to a specialist if they suspect autism spectrum disorder. Specialists will evaluate the medical history of the child as well as the parents. After all of the extensive testing, autism-specific tests may be used to confirm the diagnosis of the disorder. These tests include Childhood Autism Rating Scale Third Edition and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition They will help clinicians determine whether the child has nonverbal autism. Don’t Miss: Can You Hypnotize An Autistic Person Coping With Language And Communication Problems
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