Autism Therapy: communication

definition of communication: Communication is letting another person know what you are thinking or feeling. Communication can be verbal, written, and/or movement, such as sign-language. It is important for parents to learn to communicate with their child with autism and to encourage their child to communicate. Good communication skills may increase speech, social interaction, lower frustration and anger, and help limit bad behavior.

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Effects of Modified Milieu Therapy Intervention on the Social Communicative Behaviors of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
J Autism Dev Disord, by Mancil, GR, Conroy MA, and Haydon TF, published in 2009, summarized Nov 11, 2010

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) techniques can be combined to help children replace aberrant behavior with functional communication skills.

The purpose of this study was to see if two therapies (milieu therapy and functional communication training) could be combined to help children replace bad behavior with language. The authors measured increased communication skills, decreased use of prompts, and decreased bad behavior in three young children with autism at home and in the classroom. They found that prompts decreased with the therapy. Communication increased and bad behavior decreased to almost zero with therapy. All of these skills were generalized to untrained settings and persons.


Aggression and Tantrums in Children with Autism: A Review of Behavioral Treatments and Maintaining Variables
Journal of Mental Health Research, by Matson, J., published in 2009, summarized Sep 9, 2010

A problem-solving approach that is combined with applied behavior analysis (ABA) may be helpful for children with autism who have tantrums and aggression.

This article reviews research-based treatments for tantrums, and describes the strengths and problems of each intervention approach. The most common treatment approach for problem behavior is ABA therapy that is skill building in nature. It appears that the use of functional assessment makes it more likely that the ABA therapy will work. Many of the treatment studies also taught the child how to communicate. The author notes that brain (antipsychotic) drugs are being used more and more often for younger and younger children.


Defining Spoken Language Benchmarks and Selecting Measures of Expressive Language Development for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, by Tager-Flusberg, H., Rogers S., Cooper J., Landa, Lord C., Paul R., Rice M., and Stoel-Gammon C., published in 2009, summarized Aug 12, 2010

This article describes a new framework that can be used to define a child’s level of spoken language and to measure if therapy may be effective for children with autism.

The aim of this article is to offer measures that can be used to see whether interventions are useful in teaching language skills. The report describes the effort of a working group from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders that spent 18 months setting benchmarks to describe a child’s language level. The working group suggests that therapists move away from the term functional speech and instead use a developmental framework for language. They note that it is hard to measure the early stages of language: first words and use of communication. Their framework must still be worked on so that it includes these first types of communication.


Naturalistic Observations of Elicited Expressive Communications of Children with Autism: An Analysis of Teacher Instructions
Autism, by Chiang, H. - M., published in 2009, summarized Aug 10, 2010

Verbal prompt and modeling may be useful in eliciting communication in low verbal and nonverbal students.

The purpose of this study was to collect data on how children with severe autism communicate in the classroom. The author found that even though the 32 students were non-verbal or had few words, they did communicate in the classroom. They did this rarely (about once every six minutes). The children with the most severe autism spoke the fewest words. Almost all of the teachers were able to prompt communication from the students.


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St. Kitts/Nevis Federation Hopeful About Autism Early Intervention Center

Feb 8, 2012

The Ministry of Education on St. Kitts, with UNESCO funding, held an autism training workshop. For two days, preschool teachers, special education professionals, day care supervisors, and nurses learned about recognizing early signs of autism in children. The Principal at the Special Education Unit on Nevis, Mrs. Violet Clarke, hopes this education results in an early intervention center. “The centre will be set up as a demonstration environment to provide training for parents, nurses, preschool providers and teachers. Children will have the opportunity to be screened and receive intervention programmes designed by a multi professional team,” she explained. The focus therapies for the children will be speech and occupational therapies in order to best increase social and communication skills. Clarke hopes this goal will prompt different governmental and educational agencies to work together, sharing knowledge and funding.

Read original article: UNESCO Workshop on Nevis Draws Attention to Federation's Children with Autism


Florida Youngster with Asperger's Syndrome Thrives in Early Intervention Environment

Feb 5, 2012

Luke's parents noticed a difference in him from their other two children from the beginning; he was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. They got involved with a state-sponsored early intervention program, Early Steps. Luke receives occupational therapy (OT), which has been key in helping decrease his sensory integration issues. Luke's mom said they are doing floortime at home that helps with social and communication skills. Dana L. Johnson, a pediatric therapist has been working with Luke, and at not-quite-2, Luke is speaking complete sentences and learning to read.

Read original article: Therapy Brings Son Out From His Autistic Shell and into the Arms of His Thankful Parents


Imitation as a Form of Autism Therapy

Feb 5, 2012

The Michigan State University Autism Lab has been doing research on imitation as a form of autism therapy. In results recently published, Professor Brooke Ingersoll reported that children with autism who engaged in imitation may show increased communication and social skills. Ingersoll explained that imitation may be done at home with parents getting on their child's level and imitating them. One mom said her son "has responded very well to the imitation. He really enjoys seeing others act like he does. It kind of engages him more and with other people he is more interactive." The Autism Lab is always looking for participants with autism for their studies. They are hoping to perform research on adolescents with autism and imitation.

Read original article: Special Report: Autism Interrupted


Does Your Child with Autism Suffer from Anxiety?

Jan 19, 2012

Kathie Harrington, a speech and language pathologist and mom of a son with autism, has written an article on dealing with anxiety. She points out that anxiety in a person with autism may affect sensory, physical, imagined, and communication areas in the person’s life. She explains, “They are anxious when they know and they are anxious when they don't know. They are anxious when they see something is close and they are anxious when something is not close enough…. They are anxious when, and when, and when... .” Some techniques she recommends include routine, relaxation, weighted clothing, music, flashlight, View Master, bean bag chair, and reading.

Read original article: How to Ease Anxiety in a Person with Autism/ASD


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Please comment on this autism topic.

Responding to relationship development intervention (RDI)

Jan 6, 2012 by Anonymous

I am a parent of an 18 yr. old young man with ASD who we have been doing RDI with for the past 3 years. Once we began the program his life and ours changed. He now initiates conversation with us - true conversation, with give and take, perspective sharing, observations are related and my interests considered. He is much more other-focused and considerate. Outbursts and anti-social behaviors have been significantly decreased. Our household is so much more calm and life normalized. His ability to make study us during communication (total body language - faces, posture, tone - not just the words said) and approrpriately respond and interpret this non-verbal aspect of language is really imporved and remarked upon by family/friends and teachers. He is able to do this on his own, no prompting, no scripting - it is becoming "normal" and happening as expected. We are completely satisfied with this program and while costly, it has delivered the results where others haven't. It really changed his life. I work in Special Olympics and have a control group to compare him and this intervention against as a result. His progress compared against his peers (same age/ school experiences/ but different interventions) is significantly better. We very much look forward to how far he can go.



AUTISM = California ABA Behavior Analysis + Special Education is the "3 in 1" Autism Therapies Treatment in California & Singapore

Oct 13, 2011 by Anonymous

St. Andrew Autism Center is the Help and service provider in Singapore for autism therapies in ABA behavior intervention and special education.

Autism is an EPIDEMIC affecting Singapore children. The "3 in 1" Autism Therapies Treatment of " Autism + ABA + Special Education"  is to help children with Autism, ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Giftedness etc and related disabilities with learning, emotional and developmental needs to develop the communication, academic and social skills necessary so that they can successfully participate in their Singapore MOE schools or pre-schools, and communities. 

SeokLay Lau MA in Special Education, California State University Los Angeles, CalABA member.

Seoklay Lau's Public Profile <http://sg.linkedin.com/pub/seoklay-lau/34/621/5b>


AUTISM = California ABA Behavior Analysis + Special Education

Sep 22, 2011 by Anonymous

AUTISM is an EPIDEMIC affecting Singapore children.

To help Singapore children with Autism, ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Giftedness etc and related disabilities with learning, emotional and developmental needs to develop the communication, academic and social skills necessary so that they can successfully participate in their MOE schools and pre-schools.

Seoklay Lau MA in Special Education CSULA, CalABA member.

Seoklay's Public Profile <http://sg.linkedin.com/pub/seoklay-lau/34/621/5b>


Responding to picture exchange communication system (PECS)

Jul 25, 2011 by Anonymous

PECS is amazing! At first i was hesitant to try it, thinking if its really even gonna work. I'm so glad we did! My son started on PECS at the age of 4, and had no words in his vocabuary. Now I'm so thankful to say At the age of 5 he is a pro at his PECS book he says I WANT... what ever item he is asking for, he can now say every word in his book up to 40! he is now starting to ask for thing without the book! The PECS book helped so much with tantrum  because he is able to express to us what he wants!!!!!


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Please comment on communication or other autism therapy topics.

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    • Synonyms for communication include: commicate, commication, communicate, communication adaptation, communication board, communication boards, communication method, communication partner, communication skills, communications
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