Introduction
This session explores how the process of speech development should begin in children with autism. Rather than focusing on visual cues and milestones, it emphasizes the importance of auditory input and natural language development.
To illustrate this point, imagine two babies born at the same time—one born deaf, and the other blind. As they grow, which baby is more likely to begin talking? Most people would agree it is the blind baby. This highlights a fundamental truth: speech and language development are far more dependent on hearing than on vision.
Hearing vs. Listening: The Foundation of Speech
From the very beginning of life, a baby is biologically equipped to hear. However, hearing and listening are not the same. Hearing is the passive reception of sound. Listening, on the other hand, is active—it involves understanding, processing, and responding.
As the baby hears sounds and speech in the environment, the brain begins to process this input. Gradually, this leads to the development of an auditory feedback loop:
- The child hears a sound or word.
- The brain interprets it.
- The child attempts to respond or imitate.
- That response is heard again and refined over time.
This loop is crucial for the development of spontaneous speech, which is the goal—rather than rote repetition.
Common Misconception: Over-Reliance on Visual Input
Many conventional therapies for children with autism focus on visual-seeking behavior, using tools like: Flashcards, Sorting and matching activities, Puzzles. While these techniques can stimulate learning, they primarily strengthen the visual sense, not the auditory. For a child on the autism spectrum, who is already a strong visual learner, this can deepen visual dependency and hinder speech development.
The ARULA Perspective: Building Auditory Strength
ARULA encourages a different approach: to develop auditory seeking skills as the priority. Children should be guided to:
- Respond to voice and sound in natural settings,
- Build listening comprehension before expression,
- Engage in real-world interactions instead of artificial tasks.
The focus is on nurturing listening, which is the precursor to speech—not training the child to perform memorized speech patterns.
Understanding the Critical Period
Every child experiences a critical period for language acquisition, generally within the first four years of life. During this time, the brain is especially receptive to language learning. The ability to understand and express language develops most efficiently during this phase.
This does not mean progress cannot happen afterward, but early years offer a unique window of opportunity to lay strong foundations for spontaneous, two-way verbal communication.
Creating a Natural Learning Environment
Instead of isolating language learning into structured tasks, children should be immersed in a natural language-rich environment, such as:
- Daily conversation with parents and caregivers,
- Exposure to meaningful sounds and words,
- Contextual learning through real-life scenarios.
Speech emerges when a child is engaged, listened to, and gently guided—not when they are trained to respond on cue.
ARULA’s Approach to Speech Development
In ARULA’s method:
- Listening precedes speaking,
- Auditory engagement takes priority over visual tasks, and
- The focus remains on natural, spontaneous language rather than trained speech.
This session aims to empower parents and caregivers to begin the speech journey in a developmentally aligned and neurologically respectful way—building a true foundation for expressive, two-way communication.