Autism and Communication Problems

Autism is a wide and varied neurodevelopmental disorder that can be defined many ways. That’s why it’s referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) today, because of the fact that it can have many different signs, symptoms and severities among people.

The spectrum, this regard, refers to the large possible range of symptoms that people with ASD can suffer from. Generally speaking, though, people who have ASD share some similar symptoms, including difficulties with social interaction and communication.

People who have autism, for instance, may have trouble understanding non-verbal cues such as body language, gestures and facial expressions. They may have trouble regulating their tone of voice. Or, they may not be able to make consistent eye contact.

As you can see, autism can affect people dramatically when it comes to communication. Below, we’ll discuss the link between autism and communication problems further.

How Autism Affects Communication

Children with autism can sometimes seem like they prefer to be by themselves and that they are self-absorbed. This might not necessarily come from a preference to be by themselves, though.

Instead, children on the autism spectrum may choose to spend time alone because they have trouble interacting with others. A large part of this is it’s not as easy for them to develop the language skills that are necessary to communicate what they feel, think and want, and it’s also not as easy for them to understand the same of others.

With autism being so varied, though, different children on the autism spectrum have different levels of communication skills. Some children may have significant struggles with communication, while others display fairly typical communication skillsets.

No matter how severe a child’s autism is, though, they are likely to face at least some communication challenges.

Common Communication Problems Children with Autism Face

While the communication problems that children with autism face can be quite varied, there are some common ones that they face, including the following.

Rigid or Repetitive Language

Some children who have ASD may not have a very wide vocabulary. As such, they may use words that don’t relate to the conversations that they’re having with others.

They may also repeat other words that they’ve heard people say before, even if they don’t know what they mean and can’t use them properly. This condition is called echolalia. It could happen immediately after they hear the words or later.

Narrow Interests

Having narrow interests is a hallmark of autism, and it also affects communication patterns.

For instance, some children might have the ability to talk extensively and intelligently about certain specialized topics or interests, which makes it seems as if they don’t have any communication problems at all.

However, they also might not be able to speak much at all about subjects that fall outside of their narrow and focused interests.

Inconsistent Development of Language

Children with autism can certainly improve their language skills, especially when they are exposed to applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy. Through this intensive treatment, they can build communication skills that they need.

However, even with consistent treatment, their language skills may develop unevenly or inconsistently. For instance, some children with autism might be able to start reading at an early age, but not be able to understand what they are reading.

At the same time, others might mistakenly think they have a problem hearing if they don’t respond to what others are saying — which is another common communication problem they face.

Lack of Non-Verbal Skills

Communication doesn’t just involve spoken words; it also involves non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions and eye contact. Unfortunately, many children with autism struggle with these non-verbal skills, which holds them back from a communication standpoint.

Other people who don’t know they are on the autism spectrum might think they’re rude because they have trouble making eye contact. Others may also treat them as strange since they have trouble picking up on context clues that come from body language, or not be able to understand tone of voice in things such as sarcasm.

Since they often struggle with displaying these gestures and non-verbal skills as well, they might also get frustrated quickly — and react with outbursts — when they can’t communicate what they need or how they’re feeling.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Children with Autism Build Communication Skills

Most children on the autism spectrum face communication problems to varying extents. These skills can be improved significantly over time, though, through ABA therapy.

This science- and evidence-based approach to learning and behavior uses positive reinforcement and repetition to teach communication skills, as well as improve social interaction and daily life skills with which these children often struggle.

At Blue Gems ABA, our team of experienced therapists help children on the autism spectrum build these skills through one-on-one sessions and personalized treatment plans that are catered specifically to their unique strengths and challenges.

To learn more, please contact us today.