Autism is a neurological disorder that was reported to affect 20 out of every 1,000 kids in 2012. This disorder has three major features including the inability to develop social relationships with others, communicate with people verbally or non-verbally and take part in lots of repetitive behavior.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is on the rise. It is a serious neurological disorder that affects the brain Symptoms typically starts appearing kids before they turn three years old because their brain is still in its development stages. Although the exact cause of autism is still unknown, it is believed to have a very strong genetic foundation.
If you have someone in your life that is being affected by autism, you know how hard it is to try and communicate with them. While every person is different, there are a few basic steps that you can take in order to help you talk with them in a proper manner.
Talk to Them Like You Would Talk to Your Peers
The first thing that you need to do is to talk to the autistic person in a totally normal fashion. A lot of people think that autistic children have a hard time with comprehension and find themselves talking in more simple terms or phrases. But people with autism are able to talk like a normal person. Thus, it is important that you talk to them as if they were your peer and avoid talking down to them.
Stay Positive
Staying positive is also a critical step when talking to somebody with autism. If you say or do anything negative, it could potentially upset them and they could throw a tantrum or fit. For example, instead of saying to them, “No, you cannot eat the candy,” simply say, “Today is not good, but maybe tomorrow or next week.” This way, the child will know that the candy is still there for them in the future and will not get upset.
Another part of staying positive is to avoid getting into arguments with the autistic person. This can be very hard to do unless you have an authoritative control over the autistic person and they have to listen to your rules most of the time. Ending the argument as quickly as you can and making the autistic person happy is the best method to use if an argument does happen. Remember, the autistic person already has more than their fair share of troubles so try to keep them happy.
Keep Them Entertained
One very good way to communicate and talk with an autistic person is to keep them entertained. They will want to keep talking with you and you will get along much better with them. Keep them laughing by telling them a silly story. Play fun games with them including paddy cake or sing them one of their favorite songs. You can also use autism toys to keep them happy as well. Most importantly, remember to have fun with them and to keep them laughing.
Trying new things with an autistic person can be challenging because they like routine, but it can also keep them entertained as well. It may take a lot of trust for you to have an autistic child or adult try something new, but it can be well worth it in the end.
Having a conversation with a person who has autism can be challenging, but it does not have to be a lost cause. All you need to do is to keep them happy and entertained.