Communication
Communication is a social activity which involves passing information from one person to another.
It may involve words (verbal) but can also be achieved using non-verbal means, for example looks, gestures, facial expression, pointing and body language.
Non-verbal communication actually develops before spoken language and continues to support language throughout life.
In fact, various research indicates as much as 60 to 90% of communication is non-verbal communication (that is using body language, facial expressions and gestures).
Try putting a blindfold on and having a conversation with someone and see how that difference made you feel. Did you feel uncomfortable?
Communication involves two or more people, and requires both expression and comprehension. Neurotypical children usually understand more than they can say at a young age. Interestingly the reverse is true for autistic children. They can often say more than they can understand.
Does your child use words they don’t actually understand?
This makes it challenging for parents and teachers who are neurotypical and will naturally assume understanding based on the words a child uses.
Expressive and receptive language
Expressive language tends to be more developed than receptive language for people on the autism spectrum:
Receptive language:
The ability to understand information. It involves understanding the words, sentences and meaning of what others say or what is read.
Expressive language:
Being able to put thoughts into words and sentences, in a way that makes sense and is grammatically accurate.
Why are communication skills important?
- We need to know how to request things in order to get the things we need and want.
- We need to have ways that we can protect ourselves by protesting or refusing to do things.
- We need to be able to give information to other people to work and play within reciprocal relationships.
- We need communication to find out new information and learn.
- We need to be able to share our own ideas, thoughts and feelings.
- We need to communicate in order to be able to come up with effective planning and problem solving.
As you can tell communication is very important because everybody needs methods of communicating with others to get our needs met!
Meet Archie
Archie is an autistic, comic strip character, created by Rebecca Burgess, a freelance comic artist and illustrator living in the UK.
You can view the whole comic strip or download a pdf on the website The Art of Autism via the following button:
Go to the Art of Autism comic strip