Command/ Instruction Following in ASD
It is observed that a child with ASD often doesn’t follow instructions because of his chronological age. At the same time that child performs some activities which we don’t expect from the child. At such observations, we always doubt that the child has some developmental issues.
If we want our children to value education, then we must show our appreciation for knowledge.
BRAD SHERMAN
The main reasons for not responding correctly and recommended strategies against those are:
Generalise the learned response in different environments with different persons.
Be consistent, when the child learns/ starts responding correctly then don’t repeat it in the same way change / random the process at the earliest.
Never allow the child to get escape without getting a response. Even if you feel that he should be given a break at this stage, get a response on some easiest tasks and then give him break.
The child may exhibit disruptive behaviors like throwing, hitting, etc.
In such cases ignore again but stop the disruptive act physically e.g. keep him away from things or stop his hand if hitting etc but complete the process on given instruction.The child may exhibit aggressive behaviors as a reaction or as an escape. Such behaviors must be ignored, don’t talk or see towards the child but complete the process of given instruction by promoting. Reduce the prompt gradually as the child starts participating; he will also start doing it gradually once he will feel that you aren’t giving him space to escape even on his behaviors. Reinforce the child on responding to the instructions. Repair yourself with the child later by polite/ loving words/ accent and body language.
It is very important, to remain composed and calm even in case of severe reactions or very poor responses; don’t show any disappointment or dissatisfaction with your facial expressions, or verbal/ body language. This will take the child in a successful feeling in this war between him and you, and eventually, he will show exaggerated aggression in the next situations.
The child doesn’t know the response against that instruction since he hasn’t learned/ done it earlier or he knows the procedure but not responding.
• Recommended procedure:
Establish attention and give instruction, give 5-7 seconds response time. For incorrect / no response; don’t give repeated instructions, get attention again, give same instructions, now don’t wait rather help/ prompt for getting correct response. Gradually fade the prompt/ help in the next trials for the same instruction and reinforce/ appreciate to get independent responses.