Teaching Reading to Autistic Children

Teaching reading to autistic children can be quite challenging for a number of reasons. But, as evidenced by the many very literate individuals who have autism, the task is far from impossible. Reading can be taught with success if the teacher considers the specialized learning needs and styles of individuals with autism.

Since children with autism tend to be very literal, having difficulty in recognizing the subtleties of language, good reading comprehension can be hard to achieve. Abstract concepts and generalizations can be difficult to understand, making grammar and language skills hard to grasp. Attention spans can be short, and levels of function widely varied, and those levels can be difficult to assess reliably, since communication issues are frequent with autism.

Many people with autism tend to be focused on a specific style of learning, which can reduce the effectiveness of traditional teaching methods. There are three basic learning styles, which are visual learners, who learn best from visual cues, auditory learners, who learn most effectively by listening to spoken instructions or lectures, and kinesthetic learners, who learn most easily from active, hands on types of lessons. Most of us have a dominant learning style, but are able to use others effectively when necessary. However, people with autism may not be able to make that adjustment, getting stuck on one learning style to the exclusion of all others.

Structure is among the most important considerations when teaching children with autism. Changes in routine can be very stressful, as can transitions from one activity to another. A regular routine, with transitions made on the same schedule and in the same manner daily, can help to ease anxiety, creating a more comfortable learning environment. Lessons and activities that are planned to suit the attention span of each child can help them to master new skills more readily. Those with a shorter attention span may need frequent breaks, which can be done separating lessons into a series small steps. Others may tend to get too focused on a subject, needing a firm transition routine in place to assist them in moving on to the next activity.

Individually responsive methods are the way to go with autistic children, with an intensive and supportive approach geared towards the specific needs of each child. To use these techniques effectively, it is necessary to determine the learning style of each child, as well as special interests and talents. Lesson plans that are built around the personal needs and interests of each child are bound to bring more motivation and focus to learning, increasing the odds of success and reducing frustration levels.

Visual learners may benefit most from generous use of pictures while learning to read, such as flash cards that have words written and illustrated on the same side. Labeling items about the home or classroom area can be great way to aid in word recognition for the beginning reader who strength lies in visual learning. Videos with sub titles that spell out dialog as it is spoken by the characters on screen can be an excellent teaching tool for visually motivated learners, reinforcing the written word with images.

Auditory learners may benefit from listening to the words, either read to them or on audio tape, as they turn pages. Books with repetitive words or rhyming ones may spark the interest of auditory learners, keeping them engaged. Listening to music while following along with a printed copy of the lyrics can also be a good approach with auditory learners, reinforcing the written word with auditory stimulation.

Interactive teaching is the key for kinesthetic learners. Sitting still for more traditional learning methods can be difficult for kinesthetic learners, and even when that is accomplished, information is often not effectively absorbed. Hands on, active, methods are best for those with this learning style, such as interactive books, word puzzles, or competitive word recognition games.

In many cases, teaching reading to autistic children may take a bit longer and require more repetition than it would with the average child. However, success can be found with creative and flexible teaching techniques that take advantage of the strengths, interests, and learning style of each child to individualize the learning process. Working out the best approach for each child can be time consuming, as it will require a great deal of careful observation and even more trial and error. But, once the key to unlocking that bright young mind is discovered, the joy of watching each hard earned step towards success will be well worth the time and effort.

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