Communication Difficulties in Autism

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Communication Difficulties in Autism

• Hilary Kanaris
• Speech and Language Therapist
• MRCSLT. ACE (AUTISM)

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ESSENTIAL PRE-REQUISITES

• Something to communicate about - an awareness of
  ones needs and concepts
• A means for communication - either
  spoken language or some alternative
• A reason for communicating - an environment which
  is responsive but does not anticipate every need

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Main reasons why communication is difficult

• People who have Autism show
• Little motivation to communicate
• Little or no shared understanding of the world
• Find turn-taking difficult
• Do not understand Social Timing
• Poor pragmatic skills
• Unable to use their language flexibly or
  creatively
• Lack of social use of language
• Non-verbal communication is impaired

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Pragmatic Skills

• An ability to take into account what the listener
  already knows
• Ability to infer the speakers intent when
  listening to someone
• Knowing the how when where and why to use
  language appropriately
• Knowing not to interrupt conversations

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Non Verbal Communication

• Facial Expressions
• Eye Contact
• Body Language
• Pointing
• Use of gestures
• Turn Taking
• Listening Skills

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COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

• Heavily dependent on echolalia
• Use of repetitive stereotyped speech
• Monotonous or repetitive intonation
• Rigid use of language
• Literal interpretation of language
• Pedantic over-precise use of language
• Abnormal and eccentric use of language
• Difficulty with pronouns

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How to help Communication

• Rather than merely teaching words (Vocabulary) we
  should also be teaching
• Form - Saying the words
• Context - with different people, places and
  occasions
• Function - request, comment, refusal,
• Make sure we only teaching one of these at a time

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General rules

• Understand how the person thinks
• Start from where the person is now
• Be flexible!
• Use their interests
• Teach new skills over and over again
• Teach new things one to one
• Cut down on external distractions
• Introduce structure

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Helping Communication

• Create the right conditions
• Develop early social play
• Join in with them -imitate them, wait for them to
  imitate you
• Encourage and develop Echolalia
• Teach pointing
• Use Visual Timetables

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Helping Communication

• Get their attention FIRST! (Use their name at
  beginning)
• Reduce your language
• Use visual clues to reinforce speech
• Break tasks down into small achievable steps
• Make it motivating!
• Wait up to 15 seconds for response

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Strategies for helping communication

• Use a Minimal Speech approach
• Use a Proximal Communication approach
• Avoid focussing on abstract terms
• Back up speech with a visual clue
• Use rhythm, singing and music
• Make it fun
• Avoid too much prompting

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• During the last couple of years, I have become
  more aware of a kind of electricity that goes on
  between people. I have observed that when people
  are together and having a good time, their speech
  and laughter follow a rhythm.I have always had a
  hard time fitting in with this rhythm and I
  usually interrupt conversations without realising
  my mistake.
• Temple Grandin (1995)