Improve Comprehension in Children with Autism by Using Visual Supports
Most children with autism demonstrate both a severe receptive language disorder (i.e., deficit in their ability to understand spoken language) and a severe expressive language disorder (i.e., deficit in their ability to express themselves using symbolic communication). This combination makes communicating, a frustrating endeavor for both child and caregiver. Fortunately, there are simple strategies that can help improve children with autism’s understanding of spoken language. Visual supports such as pictures, gestures and simple sign language, are critical teaching tools to improve your child’s comprehension and decrease frustration.
This article will discuss the importance and benefits of using visual supports when speaking to your child. Visual supports include using simple sign language and/or showing pictures for key words you are saying while speaking to your child. Visual supports not only aide your child’s understanding of language; but simultaneously teach and improve your child’s receptive language skills.
Frequently parents, caregivers and educators tell me, “He understands everything; he’s just lazy.” These individuals are often misjudging the complexity of language their child/student understands. It is very important to discuss the results of receptive language testing in detail with your speech-language pathologist to get a clear picture of your child’s communication strengths and weaknesses so you will have a realistic picture of your child’s understanding of language.
If caregivers and educators constantly ask a child to follow commands he does not understand, a pattern of avoidance and escape behaviors may result.
Think about it. If you tell your child, “I need us to leave this house immediately! I don’t have time for your crying right now. You’re not a baby, are you? Stop crying, let’s go right now!” it is likely your child would become overwhelmed and not understand one word you have said because you are bombarding him with too much language. Your child may become confused and agitated and his behaviors escalated. Over time if this pattern is repeated your child may learn to escalate his behaviors faster in an effort to escape demands.
A more effective approach would be to prepare your child for leaving the house a few minutes before leaving by showing him a picture of the car and/or location of where you are going and tell him, “5 more minutes.” When it is time to leave, show him the picture (visual support) again and say, “Time to go” and point to the door.
First, you have provided a warning that it is almost time to transition to a new activity by using a visual support which should decrease his anxiety and prepare him for the demand. Secondly, because you have provided visual supports (picture and pointing gesture) as well as using simple language, it is likely your child will understand the command. If your child continues to demonstrate noncompliant behaviors over time, this should be addressed as a behavioral problem rather than a language problem because you have provided the supports necessary to aide as well as teach receptive language skills. Remember to use simple language and visual supports to ensure your child understands what you are telling him.You can create picture based visual supports by taking photos of items or places you go frequently with your camera or go to google.com and search under images to find pictures of common objects or public places that you can print from you computer.
I find it helpful to teach some simple sign language for a minimum of basic commands such as “stop,” “sit,” “wait,” “no,” and “stand up.” These are commands you give often to your child and it is important that your child understand these commands for safety reasons. You will want to have a way to supplement your verbal commands at all times so using these simple sign language visuals will be helpful when you don’t have time to find a picture visual. In an emergency situation you don’t want to be flipping through a picture book to help your child understand a command; you need him to understand immediately what you want him to do. Thus, simple sign language will be an invaluable tool to help your child understand your spoken word. To find video instruction for how to produce basic signs go to (www.aslpro.com)
Please note: Behavioral problems should be addressed by a certified behavior analyst. Formal and/or informal assessment conducted by a speech-language pathologist to determine your child’s receptive language skills are the most accurate ways to determine your child’s understanding of what is being said to him.
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This article will discuss the importance and benefits of using visual supports when speaking to your child. Visual supports include using simple sign language and/or showing pictures for key words you are saying while speaking to your child. Visual supports not only aide your child’s understanding of language; but simultaneously teach and improve your child’s receptive language skills.
Frequently parents, caregivers and educators tell me, “He understands everything; he’s just lazy.” These individuals are often misjudging the complexity of language their child/student understands. It is very important to discuss the results of receptive language testing in detail with your speech-language pathologist to get a clear picture of your child’s communication strengths and weaknesses so you will have a realistic picture of your child’s understanding of language.
If caregivers and educators constantly ask a child to follow commands he does not understand, a pattern of avoidance and escape behaviors may result.
Think about it. If you tell your child, “I need us to leave this house immediately! I don’t have time for your crying right now. You’re not a baby, are you? Stop crying, let’s go right now!” it is likely your child would become overwhelmed and not understand one word you have said because you are bombarding him with too much language. Your child may become confused and agitated and his behaviors escalated. Over time if this pattern is repeated your child may learn to escalate his behaviors faster in an effort to escape demands.
A more effective approach would be to prepare your child for leaving the house a few minutes before leaving by showing him a picture of the car and/or location of where you are going and tell him, “5 more minutes.” When it is time to leave, show him the picture (visual support) again and say, “Time to go” and point to the door.
First, you have provided a warning that it is almost time to transition to a new activity by using a visual support which should decrease his anxiety and prepare him for the demand. Secondly, because you have provided visual supports (picture and pointing gesture) as well as using simple language, it is likely your child will understand the command. If your child continues to demonstrate noncompliant behaviors over time, this should be addressed as a behavioral problem rather than a language problem because you have provided the supports necessary to aide as well as teach receptive language skills. Remember to use simple language and visual supports to ensure your child understands what you are telling him.You can create picture based visual supports by taking photos of items or places you go frequently with your camera or go to google.com and search under images to find pictures of common objects or public places that you can print from you computer.
I find it helpful to teach some simple sign language for a minimum of basic commands such as “stop,” “sit,” “wait,” “no,” and “stand up.” These are commands you give often to your child and it is important that your child understand these commands for safety reasons. You will want to have a way to supplement your verbal commands at all times so using these simple sign language visuals will be helpful when you don’t have time to find a picture visual. In an emergency situation you don’t want to be flipping through a picture book to help your child understand a command; you need him to understand immediately what you want him to do. Thus, simple sign language will be an invaluable tool to help your child understand your spoken word. To find video instruction for how to produce basic signs go to (www.aslpro.com)
Please note: Behavioral problems should be addressed by a certified behavior analyst. Formal and/or informal assessment conducted by a speech-language pathologist to determine your child’s receptive language skills are the most accurate ways to determine your child’s understanding of what is being said to him.
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