Tips to Help Your Child with Autism Speak - Advice For Parents Of Autistic Children

Here are the top 5 tips from the Speech therapist, Frances Johnstone. Learn how you can help your autistic child using these simple 5 step strategies.

If a child's speech is not adequate for functional speech (meaning that the child isn't talking), you will need to introduce various forms of augmentative-alternative communication (AAC) until you find a method that works for the child. An Autistic person may have one or more of these communication challenges:

1. The trouble with conversational skills, which include eye contact and gestures

2. Trouble understanding the meaning of words outside the context where they were learned

3. Memorization of things heard without knowing what's been said
Reliance on echolalia -- the repeating of another's words as they are being said -- as the main way to communicate

4. Little understanding of the meaning of words or symbols

5. Lack of creative language

Because of these challenges, an Autistic child must do more than learn how to speak. The child also has to learn how to use language to communicate. This includes knowing how to hold a conversation. It also includes tuning into both verbal and nonverbal cues from other people -- such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language.

Many causes of Autism have been proposed, but the understanding of the theory of causation of Autism is incomplete. Research indicates that genetic factors predominate. The heritability of Autism, however, is complex, and it is typically unclear which genes are involved. In rare cases, Autism is associated with agents that cause birth defects. Many other causes have been proposed, such as childhood immunizations, but numerous epidemiological studies have shown no scientific evidence supporting any link between vaccinations and Autism.

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[valm.]

Of all the Channels about autism this is the only one that doesn’t give me anxiety about my son’s diagnosis. Actually it gives so much hope and make absolutely comfortable of listening all this information. I just wanted you to know
That the day I find you was the same day that I started to accept and embrace autism . Every time I feel lost or scare about it I am going back to see your videos

[achilleassystem]

I just came across this video on my recommended and I want to share my experience as an autistic person and hopefully help some families. I want to preface this by saying, no child is the same, autistic or not. And having "normal" speech should never be the goal. Everyone communicates differently and some of us (autistic) people have no interest in verbally speaking or we are unable. This does not mean we don't understand you. It just means that we do not communicate in the same way as you. I understand it's difficult, but consider it as a language barrier. There are ways around it such as figuring out hand signals or using devices where the child can either type, write or select things that will speak for us.

I know a lot of parents want their child to have an easy life and getting your child to interact in a way that you deem acceptable is understandable. But from our end, what you're saying is that the way we are isn't good enough, that we have to put on an act (masking) and perform for you. There are absolutely times where your kid will need to mask, and that's okay. But if they are put in a situation where they have to mask constantly, it is incredibly draining and will leave your kid burnt out. From there it's so easy to spiral into depression, you lose your sense of identity, you essentially become the mask.

Please be wary of your sources, there is always a bias and misinformation is so widespread through the autistic community. Please listen to us when we say Autism Speaks is a hate group. They perpetuate the idea that autism is a disease, something to be cured. They promote ABA therapy (yes, it can work for some individuals but the therapy more often than not uses abusive tactics to force us to mask and "appear normal"). ASAN is an organisation made for autistics by autistics, please consider listening to them over Autism Speaks.

Another thing I ask people to keep in mind is that autistic people very often have something called emotion blindness. To describe it, it's like being very overwhelmed with an emotion but you have no idea what it is. It's intense and very hard to deal with, sometimes leading to a meltdown. We want to figure out what it is just as much as you do, but sometimes it's best to just find a way to help us cope with it first. Techniques will work differently for everyone but things that help me are; removing myself from a situation and going somewhere quiet, dark or softly lit, having a toy to stim with, watching a funny youtube video, listening to music or wrapping myself in a soft fuzzy blanket.

The goal should never be making your kid "normal". It should be about finding ways to help them navigate life in their own way. We are never going to be like a neurotypical person and that's okay. Please listen to us. Please understand we do love you, we do appreciate everything you do for us. We just might not show it in the way you expect. My way of telling my mom that I love her is showing her things that I love and bring me joy, giving her little gifts of things I made, cooking her favourite things. I struggle a lot with speaking and physical touch so I generally can't offer her hugs, but I do try to tell her in my own way. Please be patient and understanding with your kids. It's hard for us too.

[nazirahkidal]

My triplets are 6 this year, and yes they are diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 1/2 years old, we spend thousand on speech therapy, sensory, and i myself been taking courses, and i still waiting for them to call me mom...😢,

[elsakarakatsani]

Hi Tara, hi everyone...I would like to share my experience, just to give some ideas....my son was non verbal at 2, a lot of words but non verbal, the Speech therapist gave me a list of the most useful verbs that a kid use, with a lot lot lot of repetition he started using verbs in 6 months... I use songs a lot... for the things that I want him learn I found a song... I got them in a usb in the car and we sing a lot...helps a lot.... For all the mothers that the kids are older and don't speak yet...I want to say them ...Don't give up...they will do...have hope...they just need some more time....We need to have hope

[TheBoilingWater]

My son is 15 Yo. He was diagnosed Autism two year ago. He has difficulty responding to people, and not willing or unable to engage eye contact with the person who is talking tho him. Recently he was asked to leave Burger King when he finished his breakfast there and sate there reading his novels. He simply followed the order and quietly left. Since he didn’t bring his cell phone, and we agreed to pick him up in two hours, as a result he stood in the baking sun for two hours outside Burger King! I seeked out the employee who asked him out. This employee said he went over to my son to say hi to him, my son didn’t talk to him, he went over there again to see if he needed anything, my son was quiet, not said a word to him. I guess this employee then became furious and took thing in his own hand to chase my son out. I just want the society to have more awareness of autism, otherwise they can be easily misunderstood and mistreated. My son also had leukemia at age 4, this kid suffered too much and it is brutal for me to see how he suffered and mistreated.

[augustvukosovich]

Our son is almost 7 with ASD 3. He doesn't speak. However, he has begun to babble. I believe he will speak normally but nobody else in our family does. He is saying mama and dadda and deedee and many other words. He is goinf to speak. Im so happy. He is extremely intelligent. Sometimes I wonder if this is the problem. He memorizes videos after one viewing. I can repeat a joke he heard yesterday, and immediately he laughs. Not in response to my laughter, because I dont laugh to see if he does. Our children can do this!

[rissa]

Ive never been around anyone that has Autism no one in my family had it, so ive never really understood what it was. I'm 25 witha soon be 2yr old((my first an only child)) I noticed some different behavior in my daughter the last 9months or so.. Well a few months back i came across a video while on social media about a child with autism an thats when i knew that this must be what my daughter has.. I'm trying to work with her as much as I can ive been reading up on it.. But it's hard tho cause its like she doesn't understand me at all an when I call her name she well not respond to me in anyway an she can not keep eye contact an sometimes its hard cause I feel like I did something wrong but my husband keeps telling me "its not anyone's fault especially mine & that she will get better its just gonna take her time an when she's ready to talk she well", cause there are things that she does that shocks the heck out of us cause she'll be so smart about things.... But this video made me feel good to know that if I keep working with her she well soon have a few words in her Cause its even harder when your family keeps constantly asking "why cant she talk yet" or "oh i see she still not talking huh" or " how old is she, she should be talking already" like it hurts me cause I'm trying my best to teach her so I just stay strong an believe everything will be okay

[britney]

Thank you so much for this info! I just love what your doing with this channel! Just know you are appreciated!

[wendygontes]

I am so thankful I came across your channel. My 6 year old is completely nonverbal and it’s such a struggle. This helped a lot.

[thelovely]

Thank you so much. I cried by the end of this. You really help with showing how to not feel guilty but to be responsible

[mythicmarshadow]

My kid is 7 years old and non verbal. He does give kinda grunt noise but no words. My friend give me a great Idea to use a karaoke machine with disco lights to have some fun with him. Every time he makes a sound the lights strobe. It's a fun way to interact and get him making sounds

[msalimabdulrehman]

God bless you this was nice i learned many things I'm also a mum with autism kid thank you i will tell every mum whom are going through what we are going through let us try our best And Almighty God will help us 💓🙏

[dantehajime]

Finally some tips for parents to start connecting to your child!
I swear my wife and i kept asking al the therapists and such "What can we do at home to help work with the problem?" but we always got the same answer "You're doing great!!"

Very frustrating, we want help to understand and help our child, not pats on the back or smoke up ya know. :D

[lizette]

Really great tips! I'm currently trying to teach my daughter to talk. She will be 3 in October and got her autism diagnosed early this year. ❤️

[R.a.]

I noticed something in my daughter at 1 and everyone in my family kept saying she will speak she’s a late speaker but I didn’t listen when you’re the mother you just know she went right into early intervention which helped her much to the point she response to her name now and understands everything she’s honestly acting like a kid without Autism and a lot of her “red flags” kinda went away we were just waiting for her to a Covid happen and I feel like she’s regressing I’m trying not to put that in the atmosphere but I can see it. She’s trying to walk on her tip toes here and there not all the time, when I do learning sessions there isn’t a lot of eye contact when answering questions I have to use ABA skills like give her a fruit snack every time she does what I ask but only when she’s giving eye contact. I remember seeing her teacher use a light up ball that she wanted but she had to say mama and dada. Today I made sure to take her outside to the backyard to play for an hour and we had a lesson in the afternoon I thought it was a good day until nighttime we did our routine and I said goodnight gave her a kiss close the door and I saw her in her bed on camera crying n screaming and hitting her Minnie Mouse like crazy for a good 5 min straight and I’ve noticed 3 times already when she wakes up in the morning she does the same thing like I opened her dorm and she started screaming and hitting me and I just started giving her a sensory massage to calm her down. It’s very heartbreaking because she was progressing so well but I feel there’s a little regression since Covid

[hargwaynegegziabhre]

I appreciate your honesty, sincere & openness. You are clearly interested in providing helpful information. It’s particularly important given the fact that there is so much misinformation about autism.

[fernandorochelle]

my son have autism, when he is 3 years old he go to the therapies for 2 years only, because here in phillipines its very expensive, i pay all the time, its not free in therapy.. the goverment not helping if you have an austism child... now he is 13 year old. its very hard to teach if you dont have anthing. we are very poor person. i always cry for my child i dont know what to do.. im afraid if i die younger who will keep im child, who will feed im child, who will care for my child.. im sorry my english is bad.. ok. ty

[khristineocampo]

Thanks for this video! My daughter is almost 4 and nonverbal.

[sarwatsarwat]

Your such a inspiration ..my daughter is 2 just diagnosed with autism..she doesnt understand even simple instructions how to get her understand and follow instructions please.

[lexi_]

As an autism parent, I think the best way to communicate with them is to have a balance between being with them and letting them have their lone time. If autistic kids are left alone, their symtoms grow. The more we communicate, the more they develop trust and the more they communicate back.