66. Autism & First Words: 3 SLP Mistakes to Avoid

If you work with children with autism, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss. How we respond to a child’s very first words can either encourage more speech—or unintentionally shut it down.

In this episode, I share a personal story of how my overly excited reaction backfired and stopped a child from wanting to speak again. We’ll explore three big reasons why excited responses don’t work:

• They trigger the amygdala and create fear.

• They send the message that speech is unexpected.

• They create high-stakes pressure that leads to avoidance.

Instead, I’ll show you how to use the ARC approach (Acknowledge, Respond, Calm) to support natural, expected speech development.

👉 Inside the SIS Membership, you’ll find weekly activities designed with this exact principle in mind—calm, evidence-based interventions that support speech, language, and literacy without turning communication into a high-stakes performance. Every resource is ready to use in therapy, large groups, or telepractice.

Join today at https://www.kellyvess.com/sis.