I'm a little late, but welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! The year has been off to a busy start, with nine re-evaluations and initial evaluations for me in the speech room! As we settle into our regular articulation, language, and social groups, I've been doing a lot of research looking for best practice techniques. I read an interesting article recently in the ASHA Leader that I thought some might find interesting.
The article explores a theory developed by a team of Boston-area researchers that describes "predictive impairment" as a main underlying deficit in autism spectrum disorders. The article goes on to explain that a person's deficits in language, social communication, and play behavior may all stem from a difficulty with predicting what will happen next.
"The unexpected events in a magic show are what make it engaging. However, if your daily experience is "magical" in that you don't expect most of what happens, this naturally prompts avoidance and anxiety..."
"When predictable routines change or unfamiliar figures replace familiar ones, anxiety surfaces and tantrums can result."
The idea of prediction (especially socially) is something we work on with many of our students on the spectrum. What do you think your friend will say next? How do you think your friend will feel if you say that? This new theory brings even more evidence to the importance of "frontloading" new or different experiences for our students with autism. That is, letting them know ahead of time if there are changes coming up in their schedules.
Something interesting to consider as we continue on this year!
Ms. Dettmer
The article explores a theory developed by a team of Boston-area researchers that describes "predictive impairment" as a main underlying deficit in autism spectrum disorders. The article goes on to explain that a person's deficits in language, social communication, and play behavior may all stem from a difficulty with predicting what will happen next.
"The unexpected events in a magic show are what make it engaging. However, if your daily experience is "magical" in that you don't expect most of what happens, this naturally prompts avoidance and anxiety..."
"When predictable routines change or unfamiliar figures replace familiar ones, anxiety surfaces and tantrums can result."
The idea of prediction (especially socially) is something we work on with many of our students on the spectrum. What do you think your friend will say next? How do you think your friend will feel if you say that? This new theory brings even more evidence to the importance of "frontloading" new or different experiences for our students with autism. That is, letting them know ahead of time if there are changes coming up in their schedules.
Something interesting to consider as we continue on this year!
Ms. Dettmer