Yes, You Can! Your Autistic Child Can Make Eye Contact
Table of content
Yes, You Can! Your Autistic child can make Eye Contact
Glasses with fingers on Eyes Technique
FAQs: Eye Contact & Autistic Children
Q1: Why is eye contact hard for autistic children?
Q2: Can all kids with autism learn to make eye contact?
Q3: What is the "Glasses with fingers on Eyes" technique's primary objective?
Q4: What is the expected duration of results?
Q5: Do I require special equipment?
Q6: Do these methods resemble ABA?
Q7: What if my autistic child resists?
It can be incredibly challenging and often heartbreaking for parents when their autistic child struggles with eye contact, a fundamental part of social interaction and social communication skills.
Many children on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with this, but here's an empowering truth: Yes, You Can! Your Autistic Child Can Make Eye Contact.
Nearly 90% of autistic children struggle with eye contact. In this guide, I'll provide some home-based solutions that, with consistent practice, can help your child improve their ability to maintain eye contact.
While individual progress varies greatly and rapid changes can't be guaranteed for everyone, studies and clinical experience suggest that with dedication, significant improvements in social engagement are possible for individuals with ASD.
No special equipment, toys, or supplies are required for this guide. With an emphasis on applied behavior analysis (ABA) concepts in a natural environment, all of the therapies I'll discuss can be carried out at home with common household items.
Glasses with fingers on Eyes Technique
Sit your child about one foot away from you, ensuring your faces are at the same level. For instance, if your child is in a baby chair, sit on the floor so your eyes are roughly level with theirs.
Now use your fingers to create "glasses" around your eyes.
Your child will be encouraged to look straight into your eyes with this amusing gesture. Maintaining this posture, approach your child slowly and use your fingers to gently form the same "glasses" around their eyes.
The goal is to capture your child's attention and keep them looking into your eyes. This exercise helps your child unintentionally maintain eye contact and develops their interest in doing so, fostering improved social cues and nonverbal communication. This is a gentle approach to behavior shaping for children with autism.
Ribbon on Nose Technique
Place a ribbon on your nose. When your child looks at the ribbon, it will naturally help them maintain eye contact with you, acting as a visual cue to direct their gaze.
Spoon to Nose for Mealtime
Whenever you're feeding your child their favorite food, let's say rice, hold the spoon with the rice directly in line with your nose. Bring the spoon towards your child while repeating "rice, rice, rice."
This method offers two benefits:
It encourages eye contact as a social skill, and it helps your child associate the word with the food, thereby increasing their vocabulary and communication skills. For kids on the spectrum, this play-based activity can add enjoyment to learning.
FAQs: Eye Contact & Autistic Children
Q1: Why is eye contact hard for autistic children?
Due to disparities in how sensory and social information are processed, it may feel overwhelming or uneasy.
Q2: Can all kids with autism learn to make eye contact?
Although each person's progress is unique, many can greatly improve with regular practice.
Q3: What is the "Glasses with fingers on Eyes" technique's primary objective?
In order to help your child develop an interest in eye contact and enhance their social cues, the objective is to playfully grab their attention and gently encourage them to look into your eyes.
Q4: What is the expected duration of results?
Patience and consistency are essential; there is no set time frame. Improvements of any size have significance.
Q5: Do I require special equipment?
No! Every technique makes use of everyday household objects.
Q6: Do these methods resemble ABA?
Yes, they are in line with the ABA's tenets of behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Q7: What if my autistic child resists?
Do not push it. Start briefly, keep it lighthearted, and try when they are open. If resistance persists, seek advice from an expert.
