I’m working with this child at the moment who has been struggling with using the correct pronouns in his talking.
You may be thinking… ok big deal?
But the thing is, whenever you correct him or help him out with it, he either shouts out or worse still stops talking altogether.
Let me give you can example…
Last week we were using sponges and soapy water to wash his windows. Now, this is one of Sam’s most favourite things to do! So it goes without saying it was hugely reinforcing for him, with lots of opportunities to use his language.
I was well aware that the big blue sponge was his favourite so I gave it to him to begin with and I took the yellow sponge for myself.
After a minute or so, I asked Sam if I could use the blue sponge, modelling the language I wanted him to later use. He gave me the sponge and I washed away.
Instead of Sam using the yellow sponge he waited for his blue one back. He watched longingly as I dipped it in and out of the soapy water, and when it all got too much Sam blurted out…
“Can you hold it!”
Pleased that Sam was talking but aware his sentence needed shaping, I held the sponge close to me and said “I am holding it.” I then paused, giving him a change the pronoun himself…
Sam clenched his teeth and shouted out, clearly frustrated.
I waited a few more seconds but Sam was refusing to speak.
“Do you want to hold it?” I offered, holding the sponge close to him when saying “you”.
“YES.” Sam said bluntly back to me. I then calmly said “Say, can I hold it.”
Sam repeated my sentence and was relieved to be washing the window once again.
This situation has happened many times now and each time Sam refuses to change the sentence himself, he stops talking altogether and shouts out in frustration until you help him.
But, now that I know Sam definitely knows how to change his sentence, I just give him more time.
In other words, I wait it out. I let him shout and I wait.
This situation has happened at school, at home and yes even out in public.
But, if his parents and I always give him the language, or in other words and full verbal prompt every time, he will continue to rely on us for that.
Just as your child will if you always prompt them or tell them what to say.
But as we have waited it out with Sam he is now slowly but surely shaping up his sentences himself and becoming more mature and independent with this speech.
Fading back prompts is something I talk about in a lot more detail in ‘The Unlimited Autism Success Inner Circle’ along with many other language techniques.
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Live every moment, Love beyond words and make a difference today
Emma Ottaway
The Ambitious Autism Ambassador
