The theory of communication in itself is very difficult for lots of people. Some have difficulty expressing feelings and articulating what they’re trying to say, while others have zero communication issues. The level of communication difficulties varies from person to person. However, if you have a child who is on the autism spectrum, he or she can have an even more difficult time with language development.
Through applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy, speech therapists or pathologists can help improve your child’s communication, social, and learning skills through different types of reinforcement strategies. In fact, ABA therapy is considered by experts in the field to be the benchmark of treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder.
The great news is that there are lots of tools and resources out there to help children on the spectrum develop their language and communication skills. The biggest resource in your child’s ABA therapy sessions, in regards to communication and language, is going to be a speech therapist or pathologist. They’re going to provide information on how your child is progressing and also advise you on which communication strategy is best. Let’s take a close look at a few of those strategies.
Visual Supports
With visual supports, your child will be presented with tools that aid in effectively communicating and building language skills. This strategy includes:
- Words
- Pictures
- Symbols
- Objects
This is all done in an effort to help your child communicate, process information, and learn and understand language. By using visual supports, you can incorporate the use of words and pictures through communication books, picture boards, and flashcards. This strategy is also beneficial in that when they see the images, they’re able to process and retain those images better, whereas verbal communication is somewhat ‘in one ear and out the other,’ so to speak; verbal communication is more instant and it is harder to retain what’s communicated.
Visual or Picture Schedule
A subset of visual supports is a visual or picture schedule. This tool helps children on the spectrum to learn the process of different routines that come a lot easier to neurotypical children. For instance, a visual or picture schedule could depict the process of getting ready for bed. The steps could show pictures of putting on your pajamas, brushing your teeth, and getting in bed. Over time, they’ll learn and memorize the process. And despite the fact that individuals on the spectrum don’t typically like change, this process helps prepare them for change in the sense that after one step, you’ll have to do something totally different in the next step. They’ll have a better response to change, essentially.
While this is a great communication and interaction tool, in order for this visual support to be successful, it’s something that you’ll have to teach your child regularly.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
This form of autism communication strategy is best for children who are non-verbal or are hard to understand when speaking. In short, this strategy encompasses all forms of communication except talking. This includes:
- Written words
- Sign language
- Computers, tablets, and other forms of electronic communication devices
- Pictures, videos, and objects
- Gestures
Not only will this strategy help autistic children communicate, but it will even help them communicate verbally. It can also help children learn to read and write.
Speech Generation Devices
This strategy incorporates playing pre-recorded words on a device that communicates with a button or switch. It can also be typed in, it just depends on the device. For example, a speech generation device is one that may have a picture of a toy on it. If that button is pressed, the device may say “I want to play.”
This tool is generally used to help children who cannot speak, but it can also be the building foundation to help them develop speech as well. When the device speaks, it will help your child associate the various pictures and sound patterns to recognize and build language.
Supporting Successful Communication
These strategies are great for autistic individuals of any age, but if you’re seeking help for your toddler to school-aged child, they’re going to benefit greatly. Regardless of what type of communication strategy you choose to incorporate, getting your child enrolled in an ABA therapy program gives them access to speech therapy, which will play a pivotal role in strengthening the development of your child’s speech and language. Contact your local autism therapy center to learn more about how ABA therapy can help your child.
