Occasionally, children can have unavoidable issues with language and speech development. As a care provider, you have an opportunity to work with them to improve their communication.

Reasons why the child may be having difficulties with language

• limited experience of English
• undiagnosed hearing difficulties
• limited opportunities for play and language use
• developmental delay or disordered language development
• medical problems
• environmental factors, for example, trauma, housing conditions
• learning difficulties

Steps to take before referring to speech and language therapy

• listen to the parent or carer's concerns
• accurately measure the child's progress against their initial assessment
• ensure that you have the right support mechanisms in place
• consider the factors above and refer to appropriate services. for example, audiology

Strategies to help

• use gestures, facial expressions, and body language to support your verbal message
• keep your language simple and instructions short
• only talk about the here and now - not the past or future
• keep repeating unfamiliar words so the child gets used to hearing them
• get down to the child’s level, so that they can see your face and see that you are listening
• consider small group work for the child, targeting specific vocabulary and speech activities

Supporting bilingual children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• bilingual children with autism do not experience additional delays in language development and can manage vocabulary in more than one language
• using two or more languages with a child with autism spectrum disorder helps to develop their social skills
• bilingual autistic children tend to use more gestures to communicate than those only exposed to a single language
• even if a child is non-verbal, they should have the opportunity to learn other languages spoken at home

Strategies to help

• use the child's name to gain their attention
• simplify your language and keep sentences short and to the point
• use the 10 second rule to allow children additional time to process what you have said and respond
• use visual aids to support the child's understanding
• model speech back to the child and expand on what they have said