Helping Your Child With Autism: Technical Information Talk
Do you have a child who can’t use their words to comment, or doesn’t say what they want? Informational talk is a simple therapy technique that may help your child talk.
Sometimes he pays attention to the things he sees around him. Sometimes it seems to look into the distance. Sometimes she cries so hard that you get frustrated because you don’t seem to know what she wants. Sometimes he seems to want to say something but you don’t know how to make him say it. This may be a therapy technique that could help your child use her words.
What is InfoTalk?
Simply put, it is a therapy technique that encourages parents and caregivers to talk to their children at every possible opportunity. This means that we inject feedback about our everyday environment to help you discover the use and power of your speech to communicate. The trick here is knowing what and how to say so that you can encourage your child to speak.
When should I do Info Talk?
At all possible times! It is better to use it when we are doing daily activities like brushing our teeth, washing our hands, playing games or watching TV. When you go out on a family trip, it is also ideal to use.
How should you do InfoTalk?
It’s very simple. As you go about your daily activities, comment on your daily surroundings. It could anything from what you are doing, to what you are holding, playing, or what you are seeing outside. Here is an example of a situation.
Mark is a 2-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. He still can’t speak. He uses vocalizations like “aaaa” and “eee”, but they seem to mean nothing when he says them. Sometimes he focuses his gaze on objects but looks away to something distant. So, him while he washes his hands:
Marcos: Ahhh.
Mother: Yes, Mark is washing his hands. Handwashing. He marks wash hands.
Mark: (while touching the soap)
Mother: Mark is holding the soap. Yes, Mark will wash with soap.
Mark: (while rinsing) Aaaaa.
Mother: Mark is washing his hands with water. Splash! Splash! Splash!
Mark: Ah! IN! IN!
Mother: Boy! Splash! Splash! Nice try!
See? It is very simple! By doing so, you will help your child to increase her vocabulary.
What are the things you should remember?
1. Use simple words. It is important to use early words when talking to your child who is still learning to speak. Instead of saying “television,” you can just say “TV.” “Wash,” for example, is more ideal than “rinse.”
2. Use a melodic tone when speaking. When you speak, use a slightly animated tone of voice, similar to that used on children’s television shows. This helps your child pay more attention to her speech instead of saying words with the same volume and tone.
Although each child has their own rate of growth and learning, consistent use of the Info Talk technique can increase the chances that your child will be encouraged to talk.