Communication for Non-Verbal Autism

11/03/2023

Important reminder. 🙌

01/03/2023

I found a great infographic on ASD and the power of music. Take a look to see if your child would respond well to music! Music can be a great source of learning for your child! Below is a link to the website for more information!



https://www.bnbmusiclessons.com/

27/02/2023

I have mentioned an article before from Chris Taylor about “Coping with the high costs of raising an autistic child.” He argues that low-functioning children can eventually become high-functioning, but not without a hefty price tag.

How does this affect the parent’s mental health?

Taylor says that understanding the struggles and the financial commitment of raising and recovering an autistic child is an endless battle. These struggles take a massive hit on families both mentally and physically. For this reason, I need to mention that financial hardship, as well as the other hardships of being a parent with a child on the autism spectrum, can significantly impact the parents mental and physical health.

Darren Sush’s article “Getting Support for Yourself IS Supporting Your Family” mentions that mothers of children with ASD are often encountering higher parental stress, increased psychological distress, social isolation, and increased instances of depression.

This can lead to lack of pleasure, negative or worrisome feedback from friends, family, and work, relationship problems, and so many more. For this reason, parents need to try out a therapeutic support to find adaptive coping strategies and reduce stress.

Another answer might be to keep a journal. You can get your thoughts out on paper so you can go back and access the things that need to change in your life to become the parent your child needs.

Ultimately, we need to know the parental stress is inevitable when having children on the spectrum. We can explore this further by joining support groups for parents like you and getting information on how other parents deal with their stressors.
Look for more posts in the next few days about ways to destress for you and your family! Click on the links below for more information.



https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-health-autism/coping-with-the-high-costs-of-raising-an-autistic-child-idUSKBN0EZ1A220140624

https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/march-autism-handout-2022.pdf

27/02/2023

Michelle Ibarra conducted an article, “Is My ASD Parenting Style Toxic,” that argues the differences in parenting styles and the ones that seem most toxic.

So which parenting styles work and which ones should we avoid when parenting a child on the autism spectrum?

Ibarra states that most parents have the best intentions when raising their child but a lot of parents could fall under these categories: the helicopter parent, the relaxed parent, the frenetic parent, the permissive parent, or the overprotecting parent. While some of these could have its benefits, these categories tend to be toxic. It is important to know that no parenting style is flawless, and if you need help, there are plenty of resources you can look up on.

An article I could relate the one above to is Allison Martin’s “The Effects of Parenting on the Behavior of Children with Autism: A Meta-analysis." Martin mentions that the way parents behave and interact with their child could directly affect their child’s development. After doing a study, she found that parent behaviors like being overly controlling, uninvolved, harshly punishing, inconsistent, and unloving results in a child being more aggressive and experience more meltdowns. This can lead to frustration for everyone involved, so practicing positive parenting with your child is important.

Another solution is to train parents on how to work with their child when they experience behaviors.

In the end we need to know that there are definitely negative ways of parenting, but when we do our research and understand how our parenting styles impact our children. We can explore this further by talking to others who work with children on the spectrum.

Look for more posts in the next few days about parenting autism! Click the links below for more information.



https://worldstemcellsclinic.com/blog/autism-and-parenting-toxic-asd-parenting-styles/

https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1849&context=honors_theses

27/02/2023

Otsimo, a company developed for educators and families that created a free AAC communication tool, generated an article called, “Will My Nonverbal Autistic Child Ever Speak?” The article looks at what it means to be autistic while also being nonverbal. They claim that 40% of children on the spectrum are nonverbal and that each autistic person has different communication skills. There are many reasons for why your autistic child is nonverbal, but the cause can’t always be detected right away. Otsimo suggests that children with nonverbal autism should not be tested using an IQ test because it could be overwhelming for the child, hindering them from performing well. This does not mean that nonverbal autistic children have a low IQ, but they don’t have the proper resources to even take the test.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms of the disorder, the intervention, and the education the child receives, it is possible for a nonspeaking autistic child to speak, but it is also possible that, even with these resources, the child never finds their “voice.” There is always hope for every child, and early interventions can help your child with communication skills immensely. This article also provides alternative solutions for nonverbal children, more information on what is talked about above, and an example of a success story. To access this information, click the link below! This is a great resource for parents of nonspeaking autism!

In this article, we will be deep diving to answer a burning question every parent of a nonverbal autistic child has: Will my nonverbal child ever speak?

27/02/2023

Many people assume that children with autism are all the same and don’t know that each child could have different coexisting conditions that could affect other areas of their life.
At the same time, I believe that it is difficult to make the and accurate diagnosis of other disorders when the signs and symptoms overlap with autism. This is because autism is such a wide spectrum and there are not many children with autism who have the same exact symptoms.

In support of my position, Autism Empowerment in the article "Coexisting Conditions" says that there are many challenges that these children could go through, such as sensory challenges, sleep problems, learning disorders or intellectual disabilities, seizures, fragile X syndrome, GI problems, or mental health challenges, to name a few. The article gives more information about each of these condition.

This may not be widely known, but this article highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis for proper treatment since a sign or symptom could belong to autism, the coexisting condition, or even both simultaneously. The article also effectively presents the research and examples of each condition so you can understand the other problems that individuals with ASD have.

My final thoughts to share on this article are that children on the spectrum go through a lot without realizing it and we need to educate ourselves on these conditions, so our children have the best outcome in life.

Open the link below for the complete article!

Coexisting Conditions Individuals affected by autism are at an increased risk of experiencing additional cognitive, emotional, or behavioral disorders. It is very common for individuals on the autism spectrum to be dealing with other challenges and coexisting conditions. Sometimes these co-existing....

27/02/2023

Two of my previous posts were about the different strategies that we can use with our children on the spectrum who are nonverbal. One of the articles was "23 Ways To Communicate With A Nonverbal Child," by Emma Sterland and the other was “Teaching Nonverbal Autistic Children to Talk” by Geri Dawson and Lauren Elder.

Both articles discuss the strategies that the authors have found to work with ASD nonverbal children and tell us that each person with autism is unique, so one strategy that work for one child may not work for another. This shows us that it could be hard work finding a strategy, but well worth it when you find one that sticks with your child.

Based on my reading of these two sources, I have created a list of my top recommendations for communication strategies that tend to work on many individuals with autism.

1. Follow your child’s interests – You can help them learn associated vocabulary by talking about what engages them.
2. Consider assistive devices and visual supports – These resources could foster development and replace speech if your child has trouble speaking.
3. Use mirrors – This is a great way to interact with your child if they have troubles looking people in the eye. They can watch what shape you make with your mouth and try to mimic them.
4. Give them choices – Ask your child questions. Giving them options make them feel like they are in control. Asking “do you want X” or “do you want Y” while physically tapping the objects could help your child understand the vocabulary that matches what they want.
5. Encourage play and social interactions – This is a way to help your child communicate while being in an playful activity. Try activities that promote social interaction, such as singing or reciting nursery rhymes.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you have found a strategy that works with your child! Click the links below to view the proven and effective communication strategies that these scholars have found!

Look for more posts in the next few days about communication skills for non-verbal autism and different ways to help you and your family cope with stressors! Click on the links below for more information.



https://www.autismspeaks.org/expert-opinion/seven-ways-help-your-child-nonverbal-autism-speak
https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/04/16/23-ways-to-communicate-with-a-non-verbal-child/

“Just because a person can’t speak doesn’t mean they have nothing to say.” A very important reminder from a parent of a non-verbal child. Communication is a basic human need, allowing...

27/02/2023

Check out my infographic to find ways to cope with your parental stress!

27/02/2023

It is important to connect with other parents or caregivers who know what you are going through. The organization, Rise Up 4 Autism, provides an article, “Parent Support Groups With Children That Have Autism,” about the many resources they have found for parents. Support groups are essential for parents because they give them a sense of community and belonging outside of their “normal” life. These groups could also provide information, support, and understanding to others as well as receiving it in return. Parents tend to find it challenging to talk about their feelings and thoughts, but a support group could help with this problem.

This article has support groups listed as well as information about each group. Take the initiative to find a support group that you feel welcomed in. When you do this, you could build your community around positive and helpful parents of children on the spectrum, raise awareness for autism, provide social opportunities for children with autism, and encourage positive parenting practices, just to name a few.

Click the link below to find a support group that works for you and learn more about how support groups help you and your family!

Autism support groups can be beneficial to parents. They can provide vital information, support, and understanding. Rise Up For Autism offers Parent Support Groups and ABA Parent Training.

27/02/2023

Why should we talk about the high costs of raising a child on the autism spectrum and how that effects parents?

Chris Taylor has an article titled “Coping with the high costs of raising an autistic child.” It talks about the different way that parents can cope with the cost of autism. The article starts by stating that low-functioning children can eventually become high-functioning, but not without a hefty price tag. This is important to know because success is definitely possible. Whether or not you and your family can afford therapies, interventions, etc., is the main reason for children receiving services or not. It then discusses the lifetime cost of supporting an individual with autism and the types of coping mechanisms to deal with this problem.

This article is a valuable resource because it could make a parent feel less guilty about working/not working on their career when supporting a child with autism. It also urges families to take a long-term view of caregiving.

It is easy to read and understand. I recommend this article because parents need to know that there is hope that things will get better.

Click on the link to learn more for yourself!

(The writer is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.)

27/02/2023

“23 Ways To Communicate With A Non-Verbal Child” by Emma Sterland provides tips that were presented by the members of Friendship Circle, a community for those with special needs. Sterland explains how communication is a basic human need for all individuals. Those who are nonspeaking or have minimal speaking need to work harder than typical individuals to find a strategy that work for their communication needs. Parents of children and adult with special needs have provided the many strategies they have found to work with their child.

Some of the strategies provided that have not been explained before in my other posts include getting on the child’s eye-level, making eye contact, using mirrors, and using social stories. Since there are so many strategy that could work, it may be difficult to find one that your child will respond to. If an individual is nonspeaking, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have something to say. Knowing this can help you, the parent, stay motivated in assisting your child with language development.

Click the link below to find a strategy that you haven’t tried with your child before! Odds are, you will find at least one strategy from this list that will aid your child’s communication skills.

“Just because a person can’t speak doesn’t mean they have nothing to say.” A very important reminder from a parent of a non-verbal child. Communication is a basic human need, allowing...

27/02/2023

In the article below, Ben Breaux, a nonspeaker with ASD, has written a letter to young individuals who are also on the spectrum. He states that there was once a time when communicating was unfeasible. He mentions that a letterboard was the answer to his communication problems, although it may not work with all autistics. A letterboard is a board of letters that an individual can use to spell out words. He provides a great infographic on how the letterboard helped him and how it could help many others. A letterboard could work for children who suffer from apraxia; it can been less distracting than other devices, it provides great methods for teaching and learning, and also provides great support when keeping the sensory systems regulated.

Breaux used to use facial expressions and communicated with his eyes a lot before he found out about the letterboard. He wants people to know that it is possible to communicate without verbally speaking. It’s not easy, but he encourages people to not give up because he is proof that it is possible.

Click the link below to view the article and explore the world of Ben! It’s great seeing those who have non-verbal autism speak out about the different strategies that they have found to work!

Nonspeaking advocate Ben Breaux writes a letter to young autistics explaining the journey to communication.

27/02/2023

Why should we talk about anxiety in nonverbal kids with autism?
Autism Speaks has an article titled “Research yields tips for anxiety in nonverbal kids with autism.” It talks about how children with autism who are nonverbal can really enjoy an activity, then all of a sudden react badly towards the activity and want to constantly run from it. For this reason, Dr. Wood and Dr. Daniel have done a research study on specific tips for parents to use for their child’s anxiety.

The article starts by explaining that children with autism often suffer from anxiety, which can trigger them to no longer enjoy an activity they once had. This is important to know because nonverbal children who can’t express what is bothering them can encounter the uncomfortable feeling of anxiety. It then discusses how frustrating it is for the families to be unable to communicate with the child about their needs and that there are currently few treatment options that are safe to use with nonverbal, anxious, autistic children.

This article is a valuable resource because it provides the top 7 tips that work with children on the spectrum who have anxiety. It also gives some of the research they have found with each tip.
It is easy to read and understand. I would also recommend this article because it’s important for your child’s health as well as yours, to know what is bothering your child so they can find healthy coping skills.

Click on the link to learn more for yourself!

Autism Speaks-funded research is improving treatment options to help minimally verbal children with autism and severe anxiety.

27/02/2023

Extraordinary Minds has an article titled “Nonspeaking Autistic Students Resources,” that provides excellent resources for parents and individuals on the autism spectrum. They explain that we should be using the term “nonspeaking” rather than “nonverbal” since nonverbal is an inaccurate assumption because it mean “without words.” “Nonspeaking” is more preferred in the autism community when referring to individuals who can’t physically verbalize a word. But that does not mean the individual is without words; they typically understand words they read or hear. Nonspeaking individuals are usually labeled as unintelligent, but this is not the case; they just can’t speak words. They still have ways of communicating, but it’s different from how verbal people communicate.

Over one-third of individuals with autism are nonspeaking, Although this number could vary depending on what articles you read. It has been challenging to get a steady number because there is not much research centered around nonspeaking autism.

This article provides many resources that you can click on and learn more about. They also have a page for questions and answers! Check out the link below to find out more about nonspeakers!

Communication devices, systems, strategies and tools that replace or support natural speech are known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).  These tools support a person who has difficulties communicating using speech. They can be as low tech as using sign language or pencil and pape...