Autistic Communication Differences
Sometimes the established ways of doing things need an upgrade
Differences are not deficits
When you meet someone who doesn’t speak your language, do you automatically assume they’re less intelligent, because they’re not able to communicate their ideas in a way that you understand?
It’s important to remember that you don’t understand their language either, and you can’t communicate ideas intelligently in their language, otherwise you’d both be speaking that one.
Autistics are often assumed to have deficits in social and communication skills because we communicate differently from the allistic (non-autistic) majority.
First, this is a highly neuronormative way of looking at it, meaning it presumes the dominant form of communication is superior simply because it’s most common.
This is known as the “bandwagon” fallacy, sometimes called appeal to common belief, or appeal to the masses. As we’ve seen in certain social and political waves of stupidity, bigger doesn’t always mean better.
Humans are social beings. Evolutionarily, it’s important for us to fit in, belong, and cooperate. As such, it’s a natural tendency for people to want to join in with the majority and conform.
Autistics are often (not always) less susceptible to this. Many of us have strong personal beliefs and are less likely to be swayed by popular opinion. We’re proudly nonconformist.
This doesn’t mean we’re not social, it simply means we’re less concerned with fitting in, and may be stronger in our ideologies. Call it quality over quantity — or don’t. Whatever.
Communication differences
This article isn’t about conformity in particular, however, it’s specifically about our differences in communication. Autistics have unique ways of communicating.
As mentioned, these differences are automatically assumed to be deficits, but in a lot of ways, they can be strengths. Sometimes the established ways of doing things are in need of a few upgrades.
That said, the reverse is also true: Our ways of communicating aren’t inherently better either, they’re just better for us (most of the time). I’ll explain some of the ways Autistic communication differs from neurotypical (NT) communication.
Please note
These are some common characteristics of Autistic communication, which does not mean they apply to all Autistics. We’re not a monolith, there are many individual differences.
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