How to talk to someone with autism

Autism is a mental disorder that has affected many families nationwide. If you have dealt with autism one way or another then you know that communicating with an autistic child can be challenging. Every child is different, but there are still some basic things you can do to help talk to a child with autism.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk normal. One thing that people may be confused about is an autistic child's ability for comprehension. You may find yourself talking in more simple terms and phrases, but you can talk normally to most of them. Communicate as if they were your peers and avoid talking down to them. Talk in a normal speed and at a normal tone and they will understand just fine.

• 2

  Stay positive. When talking to an autistic child, it is always important to stay positive. Anything negative may upset them, so putting a positive spin on things will make them better. For example instead of saying "No you can't have cake," simply state, "Today is not a good day, but maybe next week." That way they will know the cake will not be there now, but they will have cake in the future.

• 3

  Avoid arguments. Arguments can be very challenging unless you have authoritative control over the child and they obey you most of the time. Try to end the argument as fast as possible and make the child happy. The children already have enough struggles so try to keep them happy as often as possible.

• 4

  Entertain them. An effective way to communicate with an autistic child is through entertainment. Play games such as paddy cake, use silly voices, or sing one of their favorite songs. They'll recognize the activity, have fun, and then should be able to open up to a lot more discussion.

• 5

  Try out different things. As stated before, every child is different so it may take a while to find the right way to talk to the one in your life. When you find a successful speaking method, stick to it and keep applying it so that the child gets used to it.