FAQautism

How can I encourage youngsters with autism in my class to answer questions? Some of the kids with echolalic speech only repeat the question. And several youngsters are unable to answer either-or questions. For example, when we ask if they want to swing or to jump on the trampoline, they respond by saying “yes.”

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Communication is complex under any circumstances, but autism adds another layer to the maze. Although the level varies dramatically among individuals, the very nature autism involves some degree of deficit in communication. We can help our friends with autism sort through the intricacies of language so they can communicate more clearly.

Let’s take a look at the case of the youngster who said “Yes” when asked if he wanted to swing or if he wanted to jump on the trampoline. Several factors may have been involved that prevented him from expressing a clear choice between the two.
(1) It is possible that he wanted to do BOTH activities. He wanted to swing and he wanted to jump on the trampoline, but he didn’t know how to express that desire.
(2) It is possible that he wasn’t paying attention to the question, but when he looked at the playground, he saw lots of fun activities, so he instinctively said, “Yes.”
(3) It is possible that he didn’t catch that little word “OR” that requires him to select only one of the two choices.
(4) It is possible that he has some expressive language issues, making it difficult to remember the word “swing” or “trampoline.” So he said the first word that came to mind. Some individuals with autism have recall issues somewhat like an aphasic person who might have trouble recalling or articulating common, familiar words.

No matter the cause of the youngster’s miscommunication, we can do some things to help him express his choices more clearly in response to a question. For example, the teacher can follow these process outlined below.
Step 1. Capture his attention by calling his name before asking the question.
Step 2. Say, “Do you want to swing or do you want to jump on the trampoline? Point to your choice,” or “Tell me what you want to do first.”
Step 3. If he still says “yes” and seems to want to do both, then you can ask a one part question e.g. “Do you want to swing?”

We welcome your input. Share challenges and ideas based on your experiences or intuition. Just click on the comments button or send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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