FAQautism

We tend to look at communication simplistically, inadvertently lumping individuals into one of two categories: (1) verbal or (2) non-verbal. But, in reality, communication is a very complex process, and a breakdown at any point on the language highway can cause deficits in communication. And the intricacies of autism can impact language skills even further.

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Ineffective communication is a characteristic of autism that is manifested in vastly different ways in different individuals. Let’s look at a few examples to get a sense of the complexity of issues that can stand in the way of communication.
1. Some people with autism may not be able to speak any words, but they have rather sophisticated receptive language skills.
2. Other individuals may be able to speak very clearly, but they only talk obsessively about a very narrow range of topics.
3. Yet other people with autism interpret words and phrases quite literally, so they have difficulty understanding abstractions, metaphors, parables, and other common symbolic language.
4. Some individuals may have good receptive and expressive language, but their autism stands in the way of their being able or willing to be in the presence of and communicate with other people.
5. Some people with autism have no problems conversing or talking extemporaneously, but they have great difficulty recalling the answers to specific questions.
6. Some individuals can state complex facts or recite memorized poems or movie scripts without hesitation, but they are unable to carry on a simple conversation with another person.
7. Other people with autism may have very refined vocabularies, but, rather than initiating a conversation, they only speak when echoing the words of another person
8. a person with autism can have sophisticated expressive language, but significant deficits in their receptive language can make it seem as if they have poor communication skills.
9. It can work the other way as well. A person can have no problem understanding and processing what is said to them, but they are unable to initiate conversations or verbalize their thoughts.
10. Some individuals can talk face-to-face with a person, but are unable to converse on the telephone. On the opposite side of the coin, some individuals can talk on the telephone or via e-mail, but are just overwhelmed with visual and auditory stimuli when trying to converse with a person face-to-face.

TIP FOR THE DAY. Looking at the whole picture – all aspects of language – helps us pinpoint the areas of strength and weakness for each individual. That allows us to implement strategies to help our friends with autism communicate more effectively.

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 a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. 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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