Autistic communication differences
Social communication and social interaction differences (compared to non-autistic people) are a ‘core characteristic’ of autism. For a diagnosis of autism to be made, these differences must:
- have been present since birth
- have a clinically significant impact on the person’s day to day life.
However, the presence and noticeability of these characteristics can vary a lot between autistic people.
Evidence suggests that, in comparison to non-autistic people, autistic people might:
- prefer to work, play or spend time alone
- use more:
- direct language, or less unnecessary or ambiguous language (sometimes interpreted as being ‘blunt’)
- formal, precise and technical speech
- pauses without filling them with ‘um’ or ‘ah’ sounds
- repeated words and phrases (echolalia)
- unique invented words
- find it more challenging to:
- recognise or read body language or facial expressions
- choose a tone of voice, volume or speed of speech
- judge pauses and turn-taking, or to be interrupted during a conversation
- understand words when they are not used literally, for example in metaphors, idioms, jokes, irony and sarcasm
- have a different pattern of language development compared to non-autistic people, which may include losing language skills (regression) and a later catch-up in childhood
- prefer not to make eye-contact, or find it uncomfortable
- use fewer gestures (generally in childhood).
Visit our page Signs that a child or adult may be autistic for examples relating to social communication and social interaction differences, and other autism characteristics.
Speech differences
Autistic children, like non-autistic children, develop speech at different rates. Some have typical speech development, and some show advanced language use; others have delayed speech development with a later catch up.
Some autistic people do not develop speech or use very limited speech (a few words but not sentences) throughout their lives. This is usually when they have a co-occurring learning disability.
Some autistic people who often or usually use speech can experience intermittent speech loss or an unreliable ability to speak (their ability to speak comes and goes). This is often related to their situation; for example, they may find it extremely difficult or be unable to speak when they are overwhelmed, stressed or experiencing autistic burnout.
People who are not able to speak, either temporarily or in the long term, are sometimes described as being ‘non-verbal’. However, some people with lived experience do not prefer this term, because it:
- may not be an accurate description of their experience (either because they can sometimes speak, or because they can ‘verbalise’, sometimes speaking words, sometimes using sounds not words)
- can be misinterpreted to mean that they can’t communicate, which is wrong (there are other ways of communicating that don’t involve speaking words).
Describing a person’s individual use of speech is generally preferred to blanket labels.
Another preferable and commonly used phrase is ‘people who speak few or no words’. While this may be appropriate for people who do not use speech (or who use very limited speech), it is not always relevant for people whose ability to use speech can change over time or depending on the situation (for example when they are overwhelmed.)
People who do not use speech, or who sometimes cannot use speech, may communicate in other ways, for example by using:
- writing
- sign language, such as British Sign Language (BSL)
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), such as picture-based systems or high-tech communication devices
- vocalisations (making sounds using their vocal cords but not words)
- gestures (pointing, eye gaze).
Read about the experiences of autistic people and parents on communication differences, including speech differences, in the section below,Insight from autistic people and parents.
