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Autism Screening and Referral — Get Low, Go Slow — Clinical Pathway: Primary Care

Autism Screening Clinical Pathway — Primary Care

Get Low, Go Slow

Get Low
  • Communicate directly with the child whenever possible, using the preferred communication style
  • Get on the child's level – you may not get eye contact, but that doesn’t mean the child is not listening
  • Use simple, concrete language
  • Break down instructions into small parts and consider using visual prompts
Go Slow
  • Give the patient time to adjust to transitions, demands
  • Tell the patient the transition is coming soon, and what he needs to do to get ready
  • Assure the patient that you will help
  • Tell the patient what the reward will be for making the transition successfully
  • Give simple instructions, provide lots of positive reinforcement
  • If patient becomes distressed, back-off and then work back up to helping with the transition
  • Use behavioral techniques such as shaping

 

 

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