How do I help my autistic 3 yo son improve his annunciation at home?

Question

I know about therapies and meds, blah blah...does anyone know specific techniques that can be applied, like games of repetition or something. He tries to talk a lot but he struggles to make sounds properly. He uses a lot of approximations but I see him try so hard to make the right sounds.

Answer 1

If it's close enough YOU understand it, let it go.  If he's autistic, chances are he's  late talker, (mine was/is).  So in reality, being understood is hard enough.

What I would recommend: If he says "go da stow", you can repeat him, "Yes, we're going to the store"

Thus modeling the correct pronunciation, but not making him feel like he did wrong.

Answer 2

I agree with the first person about age and time but there are techniques to help. I have a young niece with autism who only started talking at 10, and I have been taught many prompt methods. Try not to keep getting him to try to many times it will make it harder and make you more frustrated. I will put another posting later today with specific examples. I just read your question and have to go out but will get back, just wanted to let you know that there are other ways that are fun for both of you. Do you see a speech therapist?

Catch you later.

Answer 3

I worked with autistic kids recently through a special needs school. The most effective way that I helped them pronounce words was by having them focus on the movements of my mouth  while I said the word.

Make them talk too. If they want something, don't allow them to point or ramble. Make them say "I want snack," even if it takes a minute or two to get them to say the sentence. Having them repeat exactly what you say, while having them focus on your mouth, will help.

Answer 4

Go reeeaaaalllly slow. Most children with autism have auditory processing issues, and if you can go slow, it gives them more time to process the pattern of vowels and consonants that you are using. Also, being able to stim helps a lot because they can practice (just saying, because I tried to limit my daughter's verbal stims and it delayed her speech a lot)

We played made up games, she didn't have the ability to sit and learn the rules, but we'd get the flashcards and matching games and just flip over the cards and label them. She LOVED that game, especially when we played for m&ms. Started by earning an m&m if she tried to say the word (she was completely nonverbal until four), and then after she mastered that, it was perfecting the word, one letter first, then the next letter. so on.

Answer 5

For my son reading books, and word cards and just generally talking slowly to him(not in a condesending manner though that can anger them) helped a lot and also repeating back to him what he just said to me helped him.