By AmyShymansky on February 6th, 2010

Developing Listening Skills in Children with Autism

 

“To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation”

-Chinese Proverb

Developing effective listening skills is an important step towards building social relationships. In order to interact with others meaningfully we must listen and remember information from adults and peers. This includes not just the words they share with us, but also the meaning that is conveyed.  

Here are some skills to look for and/or teach to your child when developing effective listening skills:

• Ability to recall information that others have shared with him/her
• Ability to summarize in his/her own words information others have shared with him/her
• Ability to describe the main ideas or concepts that have been shared with him/her.
• Ability to draw inferences from information that has been shared by others.
• Ability to recall and use information that has been shared by others to initiate and maintain conversations with others
• Ability to listen for meaning that is conveyed beyond actual words

Parent Training

Look at the skills required to become an effective listener. Then decide which of these skills are deficit areas in your child’s own listening abilities.

Discuss the Skill

Focus on one skill area at a time discussing the individual skill and providing examples or reflect on real-life examples.  

Role Play

Once your child is able to accurately reflect on the skill area by answering questions, or providing appropriate examples try role-playing with your child to provide opportunities for him/her to successfully practice use of the skill.

Reinforce Positive Practice

Once your child is able to role play the skill with accuracy develop a behavior contract or reinforcement procedures for him/her to practice in their natural environment. For example, “If you can talk with two friends today about their favorite things to do and share this with me when you get home, then you can earn some extra computer time tonight”.

Self-Monitor

If your child can begin to engage in the skill in his or her natural environment when reinforcement is available for engaging in the skill try removing the availability of the reinforcement for practicing the skill and reinforce the child’s ability to accurately self-monitor whether he or she engaged in the behavior appropriately.