Therapy for Non-Speaking Children: How to Boost Functional Communication Skills

Do you know a child with autism who isn’t able to communicate basic wants and needs?  Does the child lack the social skills to participate in social interactions?  Do you need a guide for how to improve functional communication in a young child with autism?

Well don’t you worry, you’ve come to the right place!  I’m going to show you the top four skills to start targeting to improve functional communication in a young children with autism or suspected autism.  Let me show you what those four skills are and how to work on them.  Click “play” on the player below to hear the entire episode, or scroll down to get the show notes below.

Non-Speaking Therapy 1:

Establishing a Functional Communication System

All children have the right to communicate.  No disorder, disease, or physical limitation should be able to take that right away from them.  For that reason, it is our obligation to make sure that all children with autism have SOME way to communicate with us.  Speaking may be too hard for them so sometimes we need to come up with other ways of helping them communicate.  Here’s how we can do that:

Step One: Will Speech Work?

The first thing that we need to consider for a non-verbal or minimally-verbal child with autism is whether or not speaking is real option for them.  We can do this by asking the child to imitate basic speech tasks, like saying words or making sounds.  If the child is able to say words or make sounds in order to get something that he or she really wants, then we can say that speaking is definitely the best way to go to help that child communicate with us.  Speech is always the first option and we would love for all of our students with autism to speak to us.  However, some children simply aren’t able to talk right now, but that doesn’t mean that we give up on them and don’t provide them with an alternative.  If speech isn’t a viable option for the child you’re working with, move on to step two:

Step Two: Find an Alternative Means

Options for AAC Devices, Methods,

and Systems:

• Gestures/Body Language
  
  When the child uses natural gestures or body language to communicate with those around him. This often happens naturally but may need to be taught if the child isn’t even doing this.


• Sign Language
  
  A formal sign language is used where the child forms signs with his hands that convey meaning. These signs are used by the child as well as by the adults who are
  
  communicating with the child.


• Object Symbols
  
  Simple objects or small 3D models of objects are glued to cards or a board. The child then touches the object that represents what he wants.  This is ideal for children with vision or cognitive problems.


• Picture Boards
  
  The child is given a simple board with a selection of pictures. The child touches the picture that represents what he wants.


• Picture Exchange
  
  The child hands a