Supporting a nonverbal child

For children that are nonverbal, interacting with the outside world can be challenging.

They may feel isolated and misunderstood, and failure to understand their communication skills can result in their needs being met.

To avoid this scenario, education is key. A common misconception is that being nonverbal is linked to intelligence, but this isn’t the case.

There are many different reasons why a child may be non-verbal, including autism, speech and language disorders, or they have delayed verbal skills.

Each child is different and should be treated as such. To support them effectively, you will need to be able to recognise how they communicate and pick up on their cues.

How can you effectively communicate?

The child may get frustrated if you don’t understand what they are trying to communicate, so you must put in the time and effort to learn their methods.

Some ways of building communication include:

• Talk directly to the child – whilst the child may verbally speak back to you, talking to them can encourage them to open up and display nonverbal cues
• Reciprocate hand gestures and eye contact – this will help to build trust and encourage more communication
• Pay attention – you need to make sure you are picking up on any nonverbal cues so you can interpret these
• Use sign language – depending on the child, they may prefer to use sign language
• Be patient – effective communication won’t happen overnight, so you need to put the time and effort in.

At Almond Care Children’s Services, we recognise the importance of putting the time in to nurture each child.

Our team takes a collaborative approach to ensure each child’s needs are met, and every milestone is celebrated.

Do you or one of your loved ones need support? Contact our team today.