Ways to Interact With Your Child That Has Autism Spectrum Disorder

Every child is unique in their way. Full of eternal curiosity and questions, living in their magical world. And this curiosity leads them to learn to communicate with people, ask questions, and form friendships from a young age. Communication is one of the essential skills for children to acquire at an early age, as it lets them convey their thoughts and emotions through verbal or non-verbal means. Yet, not every other child is the same; some might hesitate or have difficulty interacting with others. But it does not mean they cannot or don’t want to communicate.

As a parent, people want their children to excel and be happy in every field. However, discovering that your child is diagnosed with ASD can be disheartening, especially when you don’t have any prior experience or proper knowledge about the disability. Children start showing symptoms at an early age, which can sometimes continue into adulthood. Their way of expressing themselves can be different than we know, but through gentle care, patience, and understanding, you can help your child. Let’s take a closer look at how you can help your autistic child/children communicate better.

Understanding ASD

The very first step to help someone with autism is to understand what the disability means and what challenges it might present. ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts how an individual perceives and socializes with others. It also makes it difficult for them to understand and learn new things or comprehend non-verbal communication. For instance, autistic kids might not recognize what a smile or frown means. But this behavior isn’t necessarily a character trait of every other individual with ASD.

The term ‘spectrum’ in the Autism Spectrum refers to the disorder’s wide range of symptoms and severity. Symptoms of ASD start to appear early in childhood. And while there is no definitive cure for this disability, there are different treatment options that can be a great help in the child’s neurological development.

Here are a few signs to pay attention to when it comes to learning to communicate with kids with ASD:

• Social interaction: The cues may include:
  • They might not respond to their name or seem uninterested in the things and conversations around them.
  • They might not reciprocate physical affection, such as hugs or cuddling, and instead, prefer spending time alone.
  • They avoid eye contact and sometimes don’t have any facial expressions.
  • Sometimes, they might have an unusual tone to their speech, like a tune or a mechanical voice.
  • They need help understanding questions or might take phrases literally. For example, “break a leg” might sound confusing to them even after explaining it directly.
  • They lack empathy or have difficulty comprehending others’ emotions.
  • They might show aggressive, passive, or disruptive behavior in a social setting without understanding its impact.

• Behavioral Patterns: Some key patterns may be:
  • They might portray repetitive body movements, like rocking back and forth, or head movements, which are involuntary.
  • Indulge in self-harming behaviors, such as biting or picking skin without realizing it brings them pain.
  • Some children establish a ritualistic routine or behaviors over time and might show aggression or extreme distress at the slightest change in them.
  • In most cases, they might become susceptible to sensory overload and have difficulty focusing or remaining calm in a loud environment.
  • They have trouble trying new or unfamiliar foods or have a strong distaste for textural differences.
  • They might have a coordination issue, which becomes evident in their body movements, such as walking on tip-toes and stiff or elaborate hand or neck movement.
  • They might have trouble segregating facts and fiction, meaning they might not participate in imaginative stories like other kids their age.
  • They sometimes might develop a hyper fixation over some objects or activities.

Autistic individuals possess equal talent and potential to excel in any field they want. They have some character traits that might seem different than what people are conditioned to deem normal behavior. Through gaining awareness and educating ourselves, it is possible to help and understand people with ASD. Here are some effective ways that can bring a positive change in the way you communicate with an autistic child.

Know How They Communicate

It is essential to learn how autistic kids try to communicate, as their way sometimes might not seem direct.

• They might use language differently. For instance, their sentence structure may need to be corrected at times.
• Some children prefer gestures, such as pointing towards the desired item, to communicate.
• They might mimic or repeat words or phrases they might have heard without meaning. Sometimes it can also have a singsong tune to those phrases. This behavior is referred to as echolalia.
• They sometimes use made-up words or phrases.
• They might need clarification on pronouns and help when referring to themselves or others. For example, they might misuse the word ‘you’ instead of ‘I.’

There are also some nonverbal cues that they can use to communicate. For example:

• They might physically move or point a person’s hand in the direction of the object they want.
• They might shift their gaze or point of vision from the desired object to the parent to tell them they want it for themselves.
• They sometimes use things instead of gestures to communicate.

Patience is Key

When communicating with your autistic child, remember to be kind and patient. They might process information at a different level and sometimes take longer to respond. At these times, it might help to slow down the speed of your speech to their level and try to maintain long pauses. Sometimes it might seem that the child has not paid attention to your question but might respond after some time.

Learning and observing their behavior over time is key to understanding them. Doing so enables you to establish better autism communication strategies with your kid.

Don’t Take Things Personally

Autistic children generally lack empathy and often fail to relate to others on an emotional level. Therefore, sometimes your child’s response might be incredibly blunt. At those times, try not to take those words personally. Their bluntness does not mean they are rude or don’t love you. It just means that their way of conveying emotions differs from yours, and with a little bit of kindness, you can learn to understand each other.

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Be Persistent

Learning to interact with your autistic child who doesn’t show you the same enthusiasm as you can get challenging at times. But don’t lose hope. Remember that by staying resilient, you are not only taking a step closer to understanding your child but also helping them develop an essential life skill.

Be Affectionate, But Stay Respectful

It might get challenging for you to converse with your autistic child. But the challenges can be even more extreme for them. Everything around them might seem so foreign as society has established certain behaviors as normal and acceptable and others as abnormal. Like any other child, they, too, require much-needed care and affection. So, try to show them love in a way they find comfortable. Try hugging them if they are fine, but remember to respect their personal space and comfort level because some kids don’t like to be touched at all. You should not try to initiate physical affection if the child is unwilling.

Understand That They Are Growing

Autistic children might have difficulty navigating daily life and need your help as their parent or caregiver. It would be best to remember that they are growing up, and you don’t invade their personal space. Like every other growing kid, they might find it invasive if you continue to force any unwanted care.

Practice Makes Perfect

Teaching communication skills to your autistic child can unlock great potential and abilities. Their view might differ from yours, but it can show you a unique perspective of the world you might have never considered. Staying patient can help your child recognize the extraordinary gift they have and can be greatly rewarding.

Utilize Positive Reinforcement

Make sure that you show encouragement to your kid when they learn a skill successfully. Positive reinforcement might boost their confidence, like praising them for learning something or rewarding them for good behavior.

Seek Help From a Trusted Therapist With DocVita Today

Fighting a disability alone can be debilitating, especially for your child, who is new to the world. For them, it can be exhausting to navigate through life and figure out why they are different from others. Therefore, as their parent or caregiver, you should stand strong as their support system. If you need additional support, a skilled therapist can effectively allow you to understand and help your child better.

DocVita helps you get in touch with a compassionate and trained professional that understands your and your child’s unique concerns. Hop on to our website to book an appointment today!