When teaching children with autism how to read, start with the phonetic alphabet – that is, the sound of each letter. Teach them using examples of words that the child uses a lot, such as F for “father”. Always relate to objects and elements of their daily life.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can face distinct challenges in learning to read. ASD is a spectrum, so the range of challenges is different for every child. But for many young children with ASD, it affects the development of foundational language and social skills.
Many students with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate difficulties in reading comprehension. These difficulties may be attributed to deficits in Theory of Mind, Weak Central Coherence, and Executive Functioning.
Hyperlexia is a condition where preschool children display an intense early interest in letters in a way that is very advanced for their age. They can decode words accurately, but without understanding their meaning.
Some children with ASD develop language after age 5. “There is a burst of kids in the 6 to 7 age range who do get language,” says Wodka, who currently leads recruitment and research efforts for the SPARK study at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reading profiles characterized by higher decoding skills and lower reading comprehension.
Some children with ASD know their alphabet letters at a very young age. However, they may lack other important early literacy skills, such as understanding why people read and write, or understanding the characters' actions or intentions in a story.
Spelling to Communicate (S2C) is a form of Assistive Technology that supports individuals who are non-speaking or unreliably speaking. S2C teaches purposeful motor skills to point to letters to spell as a reliable form of communication.
Encourage play and social interaction.
Also try playful activities that promote social interaction. Examples include singing, reciting nursery rhymes and gentle roughhousing. During your interactions, position yourself in front of your child and close to eye level – so it's easier for your child to see and hear you.
It's common for autistic children to show so-called restricted interest – that is, they like a particular subject so much that they focus only on it. They love to read, know more, and talk about it, becoming practically experts.
Many children with autism develop focused interests. Strong interest in letters and numbers is particularly common. It's important to understand that your son's pursuits may be a source of happiness and pride for him. It may also help him cope with stress and difficult situations.
Poor handwriting was noted in the original description of Asperger syndrome, and it has since been demonstrated that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have impairments within multiple domains that contribute to handwriting difficulties.
This study interviewed 9 autistic people and found that all had listening difficulties. The loudness of background noises, and the number of people talking, affected their ability to listen, as did other sights, smells, thoughts, and feelings.
Some autistic people may experience problems seeing with “meaning” within their visual surroundings and environment. This means they may use other sensory inputs to gain meaning because they cannot internally mentalise the image, visuals or see the significance they hold.
Some children with ASD develop meaningful language after age 5. "There is a burst of kids in the 6- to 7- age range who do get language," Dr.
Nonverbal autism is a subset of autism where the person does not learn how to speak. It is estimated that 25% to 50% of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) never develop spoken language beyond a few words or utterances.
Some may develop language and communication skills at later ages than their peers, and some may develop their language in a different order. Some autistic children will develop spoken language in a typical way, but they may need support in other areas of communication, such as social communication or fluency.
In some ways Williams syndrome is the opposite of autism. For example, people with Williams syndrome love to talk and tell stories, whereas those with autism usually have language delay and little imagination. Many people with Williams syndrome draw disjointed pictures, some with autism draw pictures in perfect detail.
Savant gifts, or splinter skills, may be exhibited in the following skill areas or domains: memory, hyperlexia (ie, the exceptional ability to read, spell and write), art, music, mechanical or spatial skill, calendar calculation, mathematical calculation, sensory sensitivity, athletic performance, and computer ability.
Autism is a neurological developmental disability with an estimated prevalence of one to two percent of the American and worldwide population. The diversity of the disability means that each person's individual experience of autism and needs for supports and services can vary widely.
However, for children and adults with autism, who also often experience mental health challenges, attention-seeking behaviors have the potential to put them at risk. Learning how to recognize these behaviors, and when to intervene, will help children with autism cope and properly respond to negative emotions.