Harmony Speech Therapy
Autism & Social Communication
Social communication and interactions are the heartbeats of our daily lives, encompassing everything from the words we choose and how we say them, to our body language and the way we interpret others' signals. It's how we share ideas, express feelings, build relationships, and connect with the world around us. For children who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, social communication and playing with friends can sometimes be a bit tricky. They might find it hard to switch gears from one activity to another, start games or conversations with other children, or understand the unspoken rules of how to act in different social situations.
Autism and Social Interaction and Communication
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A child diagnosed with Social Communication Disorder may face challenges in areas such as grasping social cues, engaging with others, navigating the subtleties of conversation (pragmatics), and processing spoken language. This could manifest in struggles with several key communication skills:
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Nonverbal Communication Difficulties:
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Interpreting Nonverbal Cues: A child might not notice when someone is using a facial expression to show they are bored or upset, such as not catching a frown or eye-rolling, which indicates frustration.
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Using Nonverbal Cues Appropriately: They may struggle to use gestures effectively, like nodding for "yes" or shaking their head for "no," or have difficulty maintaining appropriate eye contact during conversations, either avoiding it altogether or staring too intently.
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Verbal Communication Difficulties:
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Engaging in Conversation Appropriately: A child may find it hard to initiate conversations or may abruptly interrupt or change the subject without following the natural flow of dialogue. They might also talk at length about their interests without noticing if the listener is engaged.
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Understanding and Using Tones of Voice: Recognizing sarcasm or jokes can be difficult. For instance, they may take a sarcastic comment like "Great weather we're having!" during a rainstorm literally, not understanding the implied dissatisfaction.
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Understanding and Telling Stories: They might tell stories that are hard to follow, lacking a clear beginning, middle, or end, or omit crucial details that affect comprehension.
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Adjusting Communication Style: In different social settings, such as speaking more formally to a teacher versus casually with a friend, they may not adjust their speech, using the same tone or formality regardless of context.
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Understanding and Using Figurative Language: Phrases like "it's raining cats and dogs" might confuse them, as they interpret language very literally.
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Making Inferences: A child might not understand implied meanings in conversation, such as if someone says, "It's chilly in here," as a subtle request to close a window. They may not recognize the hint and instead only agree or disagree with the statement.