FAQautism

Participating in the fine art of conversation can be challenging for many individuals with autism. Sometimes we can help boost conversational skills by systematically teaching our friends with autism how to listen and reply.

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The first requirements for participating successfully in a conversation is to listen to what others are saying. Several of my students with autism have learned to “stop and listen” rather than rambling on about a topic that has no relevance in the on-going conversation. They have learned to “stop,” i.e. keep their mouth closed, and “listen,” i.e. pay careful attention to the words and stories of their friends.

Through social stories and role-playing, individuals with autism can learn to listen carefully to what the other people were talking about, and then make an occasional comment about that topic. For example, one pre-teen student was taught to reflect specifically on what a friend had just said. She learned to make comments such as “It sounds like that test was really hard” or “I hope you find the bracelet that fell off at recess.”

One challenge in making conversation is that of making appropriate neutral comments. We can help that situation by equipping our friends with a repertoire of neutral conversational phrases such as “Hmmm, that is interesting” and “I bet that was really fun.” Other neutral comments are “Tell me more about that,” or “I know what you mean.”

TIP FOR THE DAY: Even individuals with autism who are very talkative may need some help learning the fine art of conversation. We can help by teaching them very specific skills – stop, listen, and respond – so they can converse appropriately and develop relationships with their peers.

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 a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. 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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