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[quote=Anonymous]I always had phone anxiety as a kid but I did not have speech issues or autism, so apologies if this is not helpful.

My trick was -I always scripted conversations. For example, I did a lot of babysitting. So I wrote down all the things I might need to say. I kept this by the kitchen phone. (Yes, I would love to babysit on Friday. What time? No, I am not available, but I could do X day, etc. We had a fail safe scripted- something like, I will ask my mom and get back to you - if I was panicking about what to respond). When the grandparents called (we were not close and they lived far away) - my mom would have me greet them say one thing about me and ask one question about them, then I could hand the phone off. (Hi Grandma. Yes, I'm doing well. I'm playing basketball. How are you? [listen] OK, here's mom). I had one bff friend I talked to on the phone but otherwise it would be so nervewracking to try to call a friend to set something up.

My mom would also have me practice making routine calls. Again, I would write out my script and she would have me call the doctor's office, for example, to reschedule a check up. She would be there in case I needed to hand the phone over - if they went off script and/or I panicked. She did this throughout HS. I think now they call this "scaffolding."

I do think exposure and practice in bite size pieces helps. Most jobs still use phones - ironically I am in a job now where I talk on the phone all the time (still get that pit in my stomach every time I dial a number, though), and I am always on the phone with my mom or sister driving to/from work, and DH is not a texter at all - he just likes phone calls!

Oh another thing is I let all non-scheduled work  calls go to VM. That way I can get myself prepared for the conversation ahead of time.[/quote]

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