Lesson 3: Communication
In the last lesson, we went through what things can be different when you have autism with regard to perception, cognition and behaviour. We also went through how you can clarify and handle different situations.
In lesson 3, we will explain how perception, cognition and behaviour can impact communication and social interaction.
You will also receive concrete tips and advice, for example on how your family can use visual support and different kinds of communication support.
Communication and interaction
In this video, you will learn more about communication and interaction.
Remember!
Communication is about more than just what words you use when talking.
You also need to be able to:
- interpret someone’s body language
- pay attention to the conversation
- understand how to take turns in a conversation
- adapt to the person with whom you are speaking.
Communication and interaction.pdf
Understanding others
In this video, we explain more about how social reciprocity works with autism, that is, what it is like to socialise and communicate with other people.
Remember!
It is often difficult for children with autism to:
- see someone else’s perspective
- share an emotional experience
- read others’ emotions
- adapt communication to the person and situation
You may therefore need to help the child understand reactions and behaviours in different situations.
What could be different?
In this video, you will find more examples of what communication differences may be present with autism.
Remember!
Children with autism often have a hard time with:
- eye contact
- taking turns
- divided attention
- indirect language
- metaphors
- irony
- gestures and facial expressions
- interpreting communication as a whole
Facilitate communication
In this video, you will find examples of how to facilitate communication and interaction.
Remember!
Tips for reducing stress and demands in communication:
- Start from the child/adolescent’s perspective
- Communicate clearly, neutrally and specifically
- Do not require eye contact.
Tips for clarifying things visually (cognitive support):
- Use talking in pictures, comic strip conversations and social stories
- Use IT-based tools, such as apps
- Use pictures and schedules
You will soon learn more about how to use these tools.
Facilitate communication and interaction.pdf
Pictures and schedules
In this video, we explain how you can use pictures and schedules to prepare, clarify and explain.
Remember!
Pictures are used to clarify, prepare and explain along with the following questions:
- Where are we going to be?
- What are we going to do?
- Why?
- When?
- With whom?
- For how long?
- What will we do next?
A clear schedule improves predictability and reduces worry for the child. It also leads to improved independence.
You can also use a checklist, on which your child can cross off steps as they finish them.
Examples of visual support
Talking in pictures and comic strip conversations
In this video, we go through how talking in pictures/comic strip conversations work.
Remember!
Talking in pictures can be used to talk about something that has happened. You can also use talking in pictures to prepare the child for something that will happen.
With talking in pictures, you draw simple pictures while you talk. The pictures that you draw illustrate what you are talking about. The pictures can be referred to later to provide an easy overview of what you discussed.
Talking in pictures and comic strip conversations.pdf
Example 1: Prepare for an event
In this video, we show you how to use talking in pictures to prepare your child for an event.
Remember!
Draw together and check that the child understands. When you’re out, bring paper with you.
Example 2: Sort through an event
In this video, we show you how to use talking in pictures to sort through something that happened.
Remember!
Talking in pictures can be used to unpack what happened in a complicated situation.
It is important for the child to have a chance to speak during talking in pictures. Do not judge how the child perceived the situation or the words the child uses.
Remember that it is not suitable to use talking in pictures when the child is very upset. Wait until the child is calm again.
Social stories
A social story can be used to show the child what you can do in a given situation.
In this video, you will learn more about how to use social stories.
Remember!
A social story is built by first describing the situation. Then you put words to what went wrong. After that, you describe how to solve the situation. Finish with positive validation.
Example of social story:
- Sometimes there are a lot of seats to choose from, sometimes none at all.
- I wasn’t lucky today – my favourite spot was taken.
- Today I had to sit somewhere else, even though I didn’t like it.
- I will get to sit in my favourite spot when it’s free.
The story of wanting to have a specific seat on the bus.pdf
Example: Social stories
In this video, we show you how to use social stories.
Remember!
A social story can summarise what you have determined once you have sorted through an event.
You can read the social story several times on different occasions, which will help the child handle the situation to which you found a solution.
Additional examples
Parents explain
Communication difficulties and everyday challenges
Hear parents explain how difficulties with communication and behaviour are expressed in daily life. They also talk about what they do to solve the problems they encounter.
Girls and boys
Does autism look different for girls and boys? Hear parents describe their experience.
Conclusion lesson 3
Great work!
You’re finished with the third lesson!
Consider
You have seen several different examples of methods to use to make daily life easier. Please reflect on the questions:
- Have you already tried any of these methods in your family? If so, how did it go?
- Is there anything you have seen that you want to try with your child?
Lesson content
If you would rather read the content of the videos from lesson 3, you can click on the document below.