Show Them ‘Signs’ of Understanding

Communication plays a pivotal role in building a strong relationship. It is the only tool that can make two rank strangers become pals for lifetime. Communication enhances understanding among two people and introduces each other to their respective worlds. But the only problem comes when the other person does not understand what you try to make him or her understand. This can happen when communicating with children with autism. Many of these children are alien to the language spoken by a normal person on a day-to-day basis. Now the intriguing question is, what shall you do? The answer is, “You are capable”. You are capable enough to learn new things and share your knowledge with others who might be in the same boat as you are. Pick up some signs that are familiar with the world of autism.

I understand. You too can.

Pictorial mode of communication – The first and the most important benefit of sign language is the visual mode of communication. The general consensus is that autistic minds work better when things are shown rather than said. These children are visually oriented, so help them focus by communicating in a language that is visual. This often becomes a challenge for parents or caretakers who want to communicate with special kids. Make sign language so powerful and short that can it can help the child pay proper attention.

1. Lessening negative social behaviors – Negative social behaviors such as aggression, anxiety, tantrums, and self-injury are very common among kids with autism. The intensity of such behaviors soars when these children are unable to express their basic needs. Sign language can help curb the frustration as the child gets the feeling of being heard and understood.
2. Improvement of cerebral structures – One of the major benefits of sign language is that it supports the improvement of cerebral or mental structures that support language and speech. This is where sign language plays a vital role by establishing connections in the brain for encoding languages. This can further help the child with autism learn and grow.
3. Motivating speech and developing language – Sign language triggers the same centers in the brain that are activated by spoken language. Most of the signs are iconic in that they are visually related to the object they refer to. This makes it pretty easy for the children on the spectrum to associate with sign language. The best thing about sign language is that it acts as a bridge between speech and language by setting off the nerves of the brain that are less functional due to interruption of oral communication.
4. Enhancing social interaction – Sign language provides a technique to children on the spectrum to express themselves meaningfully. Kids with the jhelp of sign language can amenably relate to gestures with meanings. The building blocks for social interactions are expressions and receptive language. It has been seen that kids who are able to express themselves better are more likely to mingle in the social circles than those who are less communicative.