Autism & Emotional Regulation: Inner Speech Therapy
- A new therapy focusing on inner speech may help autistic children better manage their emotions.
- In a study published in autism Research, researchers designed and tested TiS, which aims to teach autistic children how to use inner speech to manage emotional reactions. The...
- The children were divided into immediate and delayed therapy groups.
Thinking in Speech (TiS) therapy shows real promise for improving emotional regulation in autistic children. A pilot study reveals that this innovative approach, which focuses on inner speech, could be a valuable tool for children aged 7-11. Researchers found demonstrable improvements, particularly on the Dysphoria scale. The study involved speech-language pathologists modeling internal dialog, helping children verbalize problem-solving strategies during challenging moments. By teaching children to recognize and name their feelings, TiS aims to provide them with a voice and coping mechanisms. News Directory 3 highlights that this innovative approach is gaining traction. While the study results are preliminary, they hint at potential for autistic children. Discover what’s next in mental health breakthroughs.
Inner Speech Therapy Shows Promise for Easing Emotional Dysregulation in Autistic Children
A new therapy focusing on inner speech may help autistic children better manage their emotions. Many autistic individuals struggle with self-regulation, but a pilot study suggests that Thinking in Speech (TiS) therapy could provide a valuable tool.
In a study published in autism Research, researchers designed and tested TiS, which aims to teach autistic children how to use inner speech to manage emotional reactions. The study, titled “Developing Inner Speech to Help Autistic Individuals Improve Their Self-Regulation Ability: A Pilot Randomized-Controlled Trial,” involved 22 autistic children between the ages of 7 and 11 who were recruited from the Pitt+Me Registry.
The children were divided into immediate and delayed therapy groups. Nine speech-language pathologists, certified and trained in TiS, delivered the intervention through sixteen 30-minute telehealth sessions over eight to 10 weeks.
During these sessions, therapists modeled internal dialogue for the children during challenging moments. This helped the children recognize cues of frustration and verbalize problem-solving strategies. As an example, if a child struggled, the therapist might say, “This is what ‘hard’ feels like,” and then prompt the child to say, “I need help.” The approach focused on affirming the child’s outlook and offering language as a coping mechanism.
Caregivers completed emotion regulation measures before and after the sessions. The study used a crossover design, ensuring each child eventually received the therapy. This allowed researchers to compare periods with and without TiS for the same participants.
The results showed significant improvements on the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory’s Dysphoria scale (F=5.49,p=0.008) and marginal improvements on the Reactivity Index (F=2.57, p=0.089). Improvements were seen in both groups once TiS was introduced, even though gains in the immediate group were not maintained at the 10-week follow-up.
Researchers noted that the results are preliminary due to the small size of the study group, the lack of an active comparison group, and the absence of direct measurement of inner speech. Though, they added that the initial results are promising, and a fully developed tis may offer a way to help autistic children name and navigate their emotions. By modeling how to speak to oneself, therapists could be giving children a voice they never knew they had inside their own minds.
More data: Barbara L. Baumann et al, Developing Inner Speech to Help Autistic Individuals Improve Their Self‐Regulation Ability: A Pilot Randomized‐Controlled trial, Autism Research (2025). DOI: 10.1002/aur.70053