It's A Script!

 In some people, autism can cause other issues that may not have presented themselves had the person not been autistic. I thought it might be helpful to tackle some of these issues one at a time. Sometimes, dealing with extra issues can seem overwhelming and they might cause us to become a little frustrated in how we handle things. Let's turn those frustrations into creativity as we learn to deal with those little extra things.

Scripting

Recently, I learned from Solon's speech therapist that he exhibits a behavior called Scripting. Scripting is a repetition of words, phrases or sounds of the speech of others. It can be taken from movies, commercials, books or something that someone has said. It's called scripting because the person has literally memorized a script to repeat and it doesn't usually require a response. 

No one really knows why scripting exists. Some specialists theorize that it only happens due to stress or anxiety. Others say it is just a way of learning to socialize with others. Whatever the reasons, scripting is something that we can learn to work with and help our autistic children to overcome. 

When scripting speech comes out, it can sound off topic or unexpected. It may not make any sense, especially to those who do not deal with autistic people very often. The important thing to remember is that there is a way to help our children overcome this. It may take practice and trying a variety of different techniques, but eventually you will find what works best for you. 

Solon often seeks me out to ask random questions. What's my favorite Cars character? Who is my favorite Disney character? Do I like police cars or fire trucks? These phrases are unexpected or off topic of something we might have been talking about before. I've been dealing with this for so long, I didn't even realize it might be a problem. 

When this happens, I usually just try answering his question and then start a conversation about it. For example, if Solon asks me "Do you like police cars or fire trucks?" I'll pick one and then ask him the same question. When he gives me his answer, I'll ask him what he likes about it and try to keep a conversation going about whatever he picked. 

Sometimes, Solon will just say a single thing such as "Tow truck." I will respond with a similar vehicle and we turn it into a game. Solon is very interested in service vehicles now so if he says "Tow truck" I might say "Street Sweeper." Then he thinks of a different service vehicle and this goes on until one of us can't think of another one to say.

I know my methods of dealing with scripting may not seem like anything. I can't tell you if it's the correct thing to do. But, what I am focusing on is having a conversation. A conversation that he started himself and that involves that give and take and turn taking that a real conversation involves. It may not make any sense to anyone who might be listening. I'm not worried about them or how they see it. I'm only focused on teaching my son how to have a conversation about something he likes. 

Echolalia

Before I had to deal with scripting, we first had to get through something called echolalia. Echolalia is where the autistic person repeats sounds or words that they hear. This is usually done as an attempt to communicate and learn because it is such a struggle for them to voice their own thoughts. Echolalia also involves the person  needing to hear you repeat whatever it is they have said. 

When Solon was first learning to speak, I noticed right away that he really needed to hear me repeat whatever it was he was saying. And not only me. Anyone in the room with me at the time might be expected to participate. 

I learned to deal with this by trying to repeat what he said with different words. For example, Solon would often hold up his favorite car and say "Red car." Instead of just repeating that back to him, I would respond with "Yes, that is a red a car. Can you show me a blue one?" 

The only thing I was trying to accomplish here was to get Solon to have a conversation, even with the limited speech he had at the time. I would repeat back the words he wanted to hear in a different way and then tack on something extra to show him that it was his turn to speak next. 

Having a conversation with Solon is still a struggle today. I personally believe that Solon's scripting behavior comes from his echolalia. I have no idea if I handled his echolalia correctly or in the best way to teach him. It was the only thing I could think of at the time. 

Reducing Behaviors

Scripting can be difficult to work with because it is often a sensory behavior. The child isn't really getting anything out of it. They aren't trying to avoid cleaning their room or really looking for attention. Rather, it just meets some internal need they seem to want fulfilled. In other words, it just makes them feel good inside. 

Scripting is thought to be brought on sometimes by stress or anxiety. If you suspect this is the case, it is important to identify what is causing the stress. Pay attention to when these behaviors occur in your child. Being able to identify a particular stressor may help you understand how to deal with it. 

In Solon's case, I believe he is trying to communicate in the only way that he can. He is a very social child and loves to try to engage other in conversation. Scripting for him is much like what small talk would be for us. Instead of asking "How are you?" he'll say something like "I drove a race car through the window." This really is just his way of saying hello. 

If you suspect your child uses scripting, it's important that you pay attention and research what might be causing it. If your child receives speech therapy services, talk with your therapist about scripting and what you can do to help your child. Remember, identifying the cause may be all you need to find the cure. 

It is also important to remember that we all engage in sensory behavior. Sometimes we just have to have that really long stretch before getting ready to move. Or maybe we click a pen while taking a test. These behaviors are brought on by something and we act on it impulsively. It is the same with scripting. They feel a need for something and then act on it. The difference is that we usually know when to act on the impulse. We need to teach our children when the appropriate time to act might be. 

Please let me know if you found any of this helpful by leaving a comment below. And, if you haven't already, please follow me and sign up for email notifications whenever a new post is released. 

As always, stay positive - Jen