A person's skill of understanding language from others...

WHAT?

The basic "what" we listen to in a communication framework are the vocal sounds produced by other people.

WHEN?

Generally, the greater our motivation to obtain something, the more likely we are to listen to (or watch for) communicative signs pertaining to what we want. Sometimes it is other people who decide that it is time to listen.

WHERE?

We learn to pay attention to what someone else is saying in certain places, but in others, we may pay little heed to what we hear. In quiet situations, children with ASD may readily attend to the only other person in the room. The goal is to teach the child to pay attention in other situations, even when other children and adults are present. To assist in this learning, it helps to make it more rewarding for the child to listen to us

-by using powerful motivations in the group situation.

HOW?

We can combine words with gestures to refine the meaning of our words so that not only must we learn to listen to words, but we also must learn to understand many types of visually based signals or communication.

WHY?

It is important to listen:

To follow instructions for personal gain.

- For example: A girl can get her candy that she forgot she left on the TV by listening to her mother say "You put your candy on the TV."

To follow instructions to benefit someone else and as a consequence to receive social attention.

- For example: A boy's father says, "Bring me the newspaper !" The boy stops playing and brings it to his father. His father then says, "Boy! What a great helper you are!"