Raising Smarter Children

Is it possible that a talking phonics program can help your non-verbal child with autism, learn to speak? 

As a reading specialist, I’ve been recommending the use of various phonics programs for years.  Some are better than others; the ones which also use speech, and are not ‘game-like’, tend to be more comprehensive, and cover the full spectrum of phonics instruction.

Something I hadn’t considered about a talking phonics program though, is how it might help a non-verbal child, with autism, learn to speak.  Here’s a letter from Caroline Winship, a parent whose barely verbal autistic child, using a talking phonics program with his brother, suddenly began to speak clearly.  What a miracle this is!

…”One morning, while our 6 year old was using the Phonics program, our autistic son (who hadn’t spoken anything clearly by 4 years of age) sat down beside his brother at the computer and suddenly started to repeat the words right along with his brother!

I was brought to tears as he spoke the words so clearly right along with the voice that I immediately called up my parents and my husband exclaiming “HE CAN TALK!”.

This was a huge pivotal moment in my son’s life because up until this point we weren’t sure if he understood how to communicate and we were exploring (through his speech therapy) ways of teaching him sign language on the chance that he might never speak.

Once we realized (through this amazing program) that he had the abilities and the desire to speak , it has just been a matter of working with him on a daily basis to encourage him to “use his words” on a regular basis…”

As a mother, whose son had some challenging learning problems early on, I was overcome when reading Caroline’s letter.  Take a look at this particular program, which I’ve used and recommended for years, and maybe you too, will write and let us know that your non-verbal child with autism, is now speaking!

Remember, every child is smart and thank you for any comments on our http://www.RaisingSmarterChildren.com  blog – let us hear your story.

Warmly,

Pat Wyman

Founder, http://www.HowToLearn.com