In this episode of the Autism Labs Podcast, Mike shares how “adaptive listening” has transformed the way he connects with his nonverbal son, emphasizing that listening is far more than hearing words. For children with limited speech, communication includes facial expressions, body language, tone, pacing, and silence — and when parents learn to slow down and truly observe, anxiety decreases and trust grows. Drawing from Adaptive Listening, he explains four listening modes — support, immerse, advance, and discern — and how many communication breakdowns happen not because we aren’t listening, but because we’re using the wrong listening style for the moment. Through a real-life example with his son Michael, he shows how pausing, regulating himself first, and adjusting his tone helped turn frustration into joy and connection. 

The core takeaway: You don’t need perfect words to build progress — you need intentional listening, one breath and one pause at a time.

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