VODcast: Instant Messaging
For a variety of reasons, many of my friends with autism are not able to speak or they struggle to use words effectively. But, they can certainly communicate in a low-tech, instant messaging style. Click on the Seesmic link for a video discussion or read more below. We welcome your input. Send an e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com
Some folks with autism scream and hit their ears or hold their hands over their ears. This may be a result of loud or unpleasant sounds. Or our friends may be throwing a temper tantrum. But sometimes a non-verbal person may hold his ears when he is focusing on an unfamiliar sound as if to say, “Say, did anyone hear that? I wonder what that sound is.” Many individuals with autism have extreme sensory sensitivities, so they may scream and hit their ears in an effort to say, “I don’t know about you guys, but I hate that sound. It may not bother anyone else, but it sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard to me!” Remember, even a quiet or seemingly pleasant sound can elicit this response.
Some of our friends with autism are escape artists, so, if a youngster suddenly bolts from the school cafeteria, we usually assume they are heading for the swings outside or another favorite place. Recently, two friends with autism bolted for very different reasons. One was in the dinner line the first day of summer camp when he calmly walked out of the dining hall. A counselor followed him, but was unable to turn him back until he found the nurse so he could follow his regular routine of taking his meds before supper. Another teenager moved to a new school and took his teacher’s words at face value when she said, “When you get your lunch, you must sit with your home room.” So, he walked through the line, got his lunch, then walked to his home room – not his fellow students but his actual home room. ☺
Some individuals with autism tend to stare into space while humming, rocking, or flapping their hands. It is, of course, possible that they are simply bored or inattentive. But several of my friends with autism rock, hum, and flap when they are concentrating. So their “odd” behavior may actually be an indication that they are very interested and engaged.
Echolalia is a common trait of individuals with autism. They do speak words, but the words are not functional since they simply echo words and phrases. On the surface, one of my friends with autism seems to be echolalic. But on closer examination, it is obvious that she only echos phrases or sentences when she doesn’t understand what is being said or if she doesn’t know the answer to a question. For example, she answered the questions, “What is your address?” and “What do you want for lunch?” But, when asked, “Did your Grandmama come visit this weekend?” she just repeated the question several times. Although she has good receptive language, this sweet young lady didn’t understand the question because she calls her grandmother “Meemaw.” She didn’t know the answer, so she just repeated the question several times.
All of this is to say that our friends are often “talking” to us. We just need to make certain we receive and interpret their instant messages.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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