How to Help Kids with Asperger's Improve Communication Skills

Kids with Asperger's have no significant delay in language. However, implied meanings may be hard to interpret. They tend to be very literal. Kids with Asperger's also usually hard their own preferred topics and can be very verbose when talking about them. Not only do they tend to talk on and on, but they may also have a hard time taking turns in conversation. Typically, kids with Asperger's want to be social but they have difficulties in social situations and those problems can cause stress and/or withdrawal from social situations. They need to specifically be taught how to use conversation skills that will help them to succeed socially.
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Instructions

• 1

  Use literal language and void implied meanings. Phrases, such as "can't you see..." can be very confusing. Instead state exactly what you want or mean.

• 2

  Explicitly teach common implied sayings and how to always interpret them. For example, teach that "can't you see..." means to wait your turn, etc.

• 3

  Practice turn taking and sharing skills. Board games are one fun way to teach turn taking and sharing. Practice conversation with a set time limit for each speaker to get kids with Asperger's used to sharing a conversation. Then gradually phase out the timer and practice conversation sharing in more natural settings.

• 4

  Provide information about common conversational topics. Kids with Asperger's tend to have preferred interests and they typically want ot talk about those interests. They may need to be taught some basic information about other common topics so that they have something meaningful to say about those things or so that they know how to respond when someone else talks about those things. Let them know that, if they talk about someone else interests, then they can be rewarded with time to also talk about their interests.

• 5

  Teach kids with Asperger's how to interpret verbal and non-verbal cues, such as hints that the other person is trying to change the subject, facial expressions, etc. Non verbal cues, such as an expression of pleasure or displeasure, how formal a setting is and what they may mean to their behavior, etc. can be very difficult for kids with Asperger's to recognize.