Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Tips for supporting children with comprehension difficulties

Around 60% of children on the autistic spectrum have some degree of learning disability and find it difficult to follow instructions.  Here are some tips to help you support your child:

  • Make sure that you have the childs attention and have eye contact with them prior to giving an instruction.
  • Split long and complex instructions into smaller chunks.
  • Use visual aids to help support understanding.
  • Use vocabulary, concepts and grammar that you know that your child understands.
  • Monitor your rate of speech: don't speak too quickly or slowly. 
  • Children that have difficulties with understanding find it difficult to isolate specific verbal messages from all other auditory and visual stimuli around them. 
  • A child with difficulties with comprehension may need more time before responding. 
  • Prioritize the vocabulary and concepts that you use: use only what is essential for your child to be able to follow your instructions

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