Getting Non-Verbal Children with Autism to Speak

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I have several kids on my caseload that are autistic nonverbal but they are very very smart. Receptively they do great. My problem is there is something in there and they want to talk they look like they’re going to try to say something or imitate something and then nothing comes out. I have one client that will do some sign language but using pictures he throws them on the floor. I have another client who will use sign language and does the same thing with pictures and I have a third client who has brain tumors as well as seizure disorder and he’s making no progress at all. He will do one or two signs but we tried pictures and he did not do well with those and any other signs he cannot do because he has weakness on one side and can’t use one arm. I know that’s a lot so if that makes sense and there’s any ideas or something I could try or resources to try to get verbal language to come out. They physically are able to make sounds they just wont. Thank you so much.

Seems Like they Can but they Won’t

Been there, done that!  This is so hard.  I think these are the hardest kiddos.  There seems to be something neurological that is keeping them from speaking.  I have no magic cure but here are some things that have helped me in the past:

  • Have a voice-output AAC system that the child can use as a backup
  • Work on imitating actions and then slowly work toward imitating actions with the mouth and then mouth sounds (non-speech)
  • Ask a question like “do you want it?” or ask them to say something and then pause until the child vocalizes (even if it seems unintentional) and then reinforce the child for making sounds
  • Use behavioral momentum by adding a speech task to the end of a sequence of non-speech tasks that they can imitate/do easily
  • Respond to non-speech babbling as if it were speech
  • When they want something, try to get them to make a sound (any sound) with the sign as they request
  • Give more reinforcement if the child vocalizes while signing
  • Imitate the child’s own vocalizations back to him/her
  • Provide tactile cues to the lips to encourage sound production
  • Remove all pressure to speak and use AAC primarily
  • Try using reading: http://ps.columbia.edu/news/kids-autism-learning-talk-starts-reading
  • Get the parents to encourage speech at home