Communication Advice for Family
The family of a child with ASD play a crucial role in supporting the child and helping them improve their skills. If the child is diagnosed with ASD, it can be useful to find out as much as you can about life with the condition. Communication is a particular challenge for children with ASD. Helping the child communicate can lead to reduced anxiety and improved behaviour. You may find the following tips useful when communicating and interacting with the child:
- Use your child’s name so they know you are addressing them.
- Keep background noise to a minimum.
- Keep language simple.
- Speak slowly and clearly with pauses between words.
- Accompany what you say with simple gestures.
- Allow extra time for your child to process what you have said.
Parent and Family Support Programmes
For more in-depth advice, there are some programmes specifically designed by the Autism Trust Foundation to help parents of children recently diagnosed with ASD.
The programme aims to support and inform parents and family members, as well as offering practical advice about looking after the child with ASD and helping to improve their skills.
