Social Communication and Interaction

Many children with autism often have a genuine desire to socialize and interact with others but may not know how to form or sustain friendships. For instance, many children with autism enjoy engaging with others in activities that interest them or like initiating social interactions. The level to which people with autism are affected by social communication difficulties is highly variable and could be as simple as the lack of appropriate eye contact or as complex as not being able to form conversations or respond to social cues. By supporting children with autism in building up their social skills and teaching them how to act in social situations, we can help enhance their participation in the community and promote a happier and more collaborative lifestyle.

Social Cues

Social cues are non-verbal communication that is not previously explained and is the implied etiquette surrounding certain situations. Social cues can be complicated and difficult to understand because behavior appropriate in one context may not fit another. For children with autism, these complex rules are commonly unnatural or incomprehensible, but they can be learned with time. Here are some examples of social cues that autistic children may have difficulty understanding:

Tone of Voice

Body Language

Social Gestures

Social Mannerisms Taking turns when speaking

Asking related/appropriate questions during conversations

Not engaging in /dominating conversations

Staying on topic when speaking

Verbal and Non-verbal Communication

Another significant characteristic of autism is the ability to communicate and comprehend speech. Some individuals with autism can have difficulties in expressive and receptive language. Expressive language is the ability to express thoughts and desires explicitly to others, while receptive language is the ability to comprehend language, such as following directions. Additionally, some individuals with autism can verbally express their thoughts, while those who are nonverbal will commonly communicate through gestures, a communication device, or sign language. Here are some examples of how verbal and nonverbal individuals with autism may demonstrate:

Verbal

Repeating other’s spoken words to communicate with others

Example: Using a line of dialogue from television programs or movies

And then... and then... and then...

Stereotyped and repeated use of language to initiate or sustain a conversation

I have less dogs than you.

Inappropriate word use

Examples:

Constantly using "and then" Mixing up less and fewer

Abnormal use of pitch, rhythm, stress, and intonation

Examples:

Declarative sentences ending in a rising tone to signal the asking of a question

Monotonal speech

I... want... chocolate... milk...

I want chocolate milk?

Immature grammar structure

Examples:

Improper tense

Improper use of pronouns

"I has a dog"

Her and I went to the park today!

Advanced vocabulary in an area of interest

The Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Brontosaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus were dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic Period.

Nonverbal

Signs of Non-Verbal Autism in Children:

Not responding to their name by 12 months old

Not babbling or laughing by 12 months old

Not pointing to objects of interest by 14 months old

Avoiding eye contact or preferring to be alone

Not meeting developmental milestones for speech and language

Flapping their hands or rocking their body for comfort

Nonverbal individuals with autism communicate using alternative augmentative communication (AAC), such as sign language, pictures, or a voice output device

Delay in vocabulary development

I like dogs because they are friendly and cute! What about you?

I like cats!

Difficulty in understanding abstract concepts

Examples: Emotions/feelings, metaphors, ideas, etc.

Difficulty interpreting social language, such as sarcasm and jokes

What do you call a bear with no teeth? I don't know... A gummy bear! Huh?

Difficulty in following directions

Everyone, please sit on the floor for silent reading.