Navigating through Autism: Alternative forms of communication

When we think of an autistic child, one of the first things that comes to our mind is a child having a ‘meltdown.’ A child screaming and cuddling themselves on the floor or resisting to do something you want to get done. A child who is unable to communicate what they wish to or unable to understand what you are trying to say. Yes, the child has difficulty articulating with others. The child is extremely frustrated by their inability to express their needs. But is it really because they don’t know how to communicate? Or is it because we are communicating in a different language? 

Read More: The experiences of families raising autistic children

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are those methods of communication without verbal speech. It includes communication through gestures, sign language, pictures or visual information, written or typed words, and drawings. Persons with speech impairments or congenital impairments often use AAC methods to communicate throughout their lives. 

While Augmentative and Alternative modes of communication are a natural choice for persons with speech impairments, the power of such communication is overlooked in Autism. Autistic children are highly visual learners who benefit significantly from visual representation. For an autistic child who has difficulty understanding the hidden meanings or nuances of speech, visual information is straightforward and clear, thus making it simpler. Visual information is also quickly processed by an autistic child, thus reducing the anxiety associated with communication. In simpler terms, the implementation of AAC can look like this: 

• Picture schedule: This involves using pictures to create a sequence of the steps involved in an activity or a series of all the tasks set for the day. For example, a morning routine sequence can include pictures of a brush, paste, putting paste on the brush, brushing, using the toilet, washing, using tissues, etc, arranged in consecutive order. 
• Picture book or picture exchange: A picture book that contains pictures of relevant materials in the child’s life helps the child communicate by pointing at the pictures. This can include pictures of objects, actions, needs, or emotions the child may want to express. Keeping the images detachable can enable the child to take them out and hand them over to the other person. 
• Picture timetable: Developed by an organization called Action For Autism (AFA), a picture timetable is an effective way to help the autistic child be prepared in advance. The timetable can highlight the events for the week, including general tasks, any new events, and goals. This becomes important because unexpected changes and uncertainty can significantly affect the mental health of an autistic child.

Read More: Understanding Aphasia: Types, Causes and Treatment

Why Augmentative Communication? 

Research has proven that augmentative and alternative forms of communication have been significantly helpful for autistic children. AAC helps the child express their feelings and reduces the meltdowns that often occur from unmet needs. However, many parents’ primary concern is the child’s speech development. The question often arises whether the use of AAC will hinder the growth of verbal speech in the child. Studies have shown that the use of AAC has no impact on the child’s speech development. It only helps reduce the frustration associated with language and assists the child in communicating better.

Come to think of it, what’s more important is that the child can express themselves in whatever form possible. We may have encountered multiple instances when we fail to find the right word in a sentence, leaving us feeling twitchy at the tip of our tongue. Imagine the frustration of a child trying their entire lifetime to find the right way to express themselves. 

Augmentative communication not only helps autistic children express their needs but also helps them socialize and interact with the world. It enables the child to understand the world better and navigate its nuances. It scaffolds the child in moving toward independent living and self-care. But most of all, it gives an autistic child acknowledgement, in a world that hardly understands them. 

Read More: Unleashing the Power of Words: Understanding speech disorders

Where do I start?

If you are a parent, you might wonder how to start using AAC with your child. In that case, the simplest way is to start using pictures and visual modes of communication. Making a picture book simply involves printing out relevant pictures and putting them in a binder. There are also several apps available for picture communication, such as TouchChat, iCommunicate, Avaaz AAC, and more. Picture communication books are also available to buy online. Connecting with parental networks may also help in understanding the best ways to implement alternative forms of communication.