Students with Asperger syndrome will have difficulty processing and retaining oral information, even if they have good oral skills themselves.
As a general rule, keep your instructions short and simple. When speaking individually, first gain the student's attention by using his/her name, but remember that eye contact can be intimidating and therefore do not always insist on it.
Many students find it difficult to interpret facial expression and process oral language at the same time. This is particularly true when students with Asperger syndrome are anxious.
Strategies for overcoming difficulties with communication
| Difficulty | Suggested strategies |
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Processing and following instructions and information given to the whole class |
Use student's name to refocus their attention when they are losing concentration. Check understanding and when necessary, repeat instructions one to one. Try to use the same words. Allow extra time for processing and try to speak more slowly. List key instructions on an individual whiteboard or laminated paper. The student can then check off each step as they complete it (see Examples section listed at the bottom of this page). On the large whiteboard use written words or pictures to accompany oral information wherever possible.
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Answering open-ended questions |
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Reluctant to ask for help |
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Literal interpretation that can lead to misunderstandings and confusion |
Explain the use of irony, sarcasm, figurative language, rhetorical questions, idioms etc. When discussing it with the whole class, this can be a useful learning experience for the student, but should be avoided when speaking to them individually.
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