Asperger's Syndrome - Language

People with AS have trouble using language. The use of language is called "pragmatics"

Things you can do to help.

• Teach basic conversation skills.
• Tell your child to admit, "I don't know."
• Show your child how to recognize social conversation cues like when to respond or change topics.
• Practice taking turns in talking.
• Teach sympathetic phrases (e.g., "I'm sorry") and teach child when they are appropriate.

People with AS have trouble with "figures of speech." Some examples are "Keep your eye on the ball"; "Chill out"; "Scared to death"; "Catch you later."

Things you can do to help

• Think about what you say.
• Explain figures of speech.
• Help your child write down some figures of speech.
• Have your child write down words that have more than one meaning.

People with AS may talk out loud to themselves.

Things you can do to help

• Encourage whispering.
• Use "think it, don't say it" as a cue to minimize talking out loud when near other people.

People with AS may have trouble when it is noisy.

Things you can do to help

• Talk slowly.
• Ask your child to repeat what you said.

Speech and Language Therapy may help.

Adapted from: Asperger's Syndrome: A guide for Parents and Professionals by Tony Attwood. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. London and Philadelphia, 2000