Communication_Impairment

Communication Impairment Communication is more complicate than knowing the meaning of words. It takes recognition and understanding of cultural phrases. Communication is a central impairment to the autism disorder (Sigman & Capps, 1997, p.72). Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the nervous system. This in turn affects the sensory system, which causes an impairment in communicating (Rosenberg, 2001, p.6). Autistic children have difficulty communicating for many reasons. There are three main impairments in communicating: a delay, or total lack of any spoken communication, the inability to speak properly to others, and a repetitive use of language. By the age of two and a half, most children have developed ways to communicate. These ways may include communicating through speaking short phrases or by giving gestures. Autistic people may not have the ability to speak or they may not know how to communicate what they are feeling. One main reason for problems with spoken communication is confusion. People with autism become easily confused when faced with new or unusual information (Rosenberg, 2001, p.16). When autistic people are confused, they may acquire problems with receptive and expressive communication (Hart, 1993, p.164). Receptive communication is how people comprehend information they have heard. Expressive communication is how a person speaks his or her thoughts and feelings. Most autistic people have problems with either receptive or expressive communication. People with autism may have apraxia, also known as dyspraxia. This is the inability to move the mouth and tongue to from words. Apraxia is a treatable communication problem. When apraxia is treated, an autistic person can learn to form words. There are other impairments which are not as treatable. Proper etiquette, when communicating, is not often taught, but learned through observing others. In the “theory of mind” explanation of autism, autistic people are unable to think about the thoughts of others (Rosenberg, 2001, pp.8-9) They can also be unaware of people around them (Happe’, 1994, p.38). This makes it almost impossible for autistic people to learn proper ways of communicating. For example, an autistic person would not understand the problem with asking an adult woman her age and weight. Autistic people also have a difficult time following the flow of a conversation. Ideas that are not concrete or visible in their minds are too difficult for them to understand (Rosenberg, 2001, p.16). When trying to be a part of a conversation, an autistic person may tend to ask unrelated or embarrassing questions (Sigman & Capps, 1997,p.80). Another tendency autistic people show, when trying to take part in a conversation, is repetitiveness. Repeating words or phrases is a common problem autistic people have in communicating. People with autism do not like a change. They feel less confused when there is a repetitive routine. Their insistence on repetition may cause a disorder called echolalia. Echolalia means “a parrot like echoing” (Sigman & Capps, 1997,p.82). There are two types of echolalia. The immediate echolalia and the delayed echolalia. The immediate echolalia is when an autistic person repeats immediately what he or she has just heard. Delayed echolalia is when autistic people echo what they have heard from a previous conversation. According to Marian Sigman and Lisa Capps, 80% of verbally able autistic people develop echolalia (1997,p.82). Although autistic people echo or repeat words, this does not mean they understand what they are saying. The main cause of a communication impairment to an autistic person is confusion. Autism affects the nervous system, causing a sensitivity in autistic people to strange or unknown situations. Whether they are unable to speak, shy away from other people, or speak only in repetition to already known phrases, communication is an ongoing problem for autistic people. An understanding and compassion from those around autistic people may encourage them to express themselves in more socially accepted ways.