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Many people are learning about autism for the first time right now - especially about autistic people who don‘t speak and use devices to communicate.
And there‘s a lot to learn!
To start, here is a helpful thread with some related terms and their meanings:
And there‘s a lot to learn!
To start, here is a helpful thread with some related terms and their meanings:
NON-VERBAL
Non-verbal = doesn‘t communicate with words.
This says nothing about whether one UNDERSTANDS words though. Sadly, plenty of people falsely believe someone who doesn‘t communicate with words also doesn‘t understand words.
Please don‘t make this damaging assumption.
Non-verbal = doesn‘t communicate with words.
This says nothing about whether one UNDERSTANDS words though. Sadly, plenty of people falsely believe someone who doesn‘t communicate with words also doesn‘t understand words.
Please don‘t make this damaging assumption.
NON-SPEAKING
Non-speaking = doesn‘t communicate with oral speech.
This says nothing about whether someone UNDERSTANDS oral speech.
The difference between non-verbal and non-speaking matters.
MANY use „non-verbal“ when the correct term would be „non-speaking“ (like Sia...).
Non-speaking = doesn‘t communicate with oral speech.
This says nothing about whether someone UNDERSTANDS oral speech.
The difference between non-verbal and non-speaking matters.
MANY use „non-verbal“ when the correct term would be „non-speaking“ (like Sia...).
Both being non-verbal and being non-speaking can have many different causes.
Some examples common for autistic people are apraxia, Selective Mutism, overload...but there are MANY more.
The same autistic person can experience different causes at different times.
Some examples common for autistic people are apraxia, Selective Mutism, overload...but there are MANY more.
The same autistic person can experience different causes at different times.
Speech and communication are both fluid.
This means that while some autistic people are always non-speaking or non-verbal, others are non-verbal or non-speaking at a certain age, in certain situations or environments, occasionally, etc. - and at other times they speak.
This means that while some autistic people are always non-speaking or non-verbal, others are non-verbal or non-speaking at a certain age, in certain situations or environments, occasionally, etc. - and at other times they speak.
Non-speaking and non-verbal are umbrella terms.
If we want to specify a groups or individuals more detailed experiences, we can use additional descriptors like:
„Intermittently non-speaking“
„Fully non-speaking“
„was non-verbal until age X“
„non-verbal while in meltdown“
Etc.
If we want to specify a groups or individuals more detailed experiences, we can use additional descriptors like:
„Intermittently non-speaking“
„Fully non-speaking“
„was non-verbal until age X“
„non-verbal while in meltdown“
Etc.
Non-verbal and non-speaking people do communicate!
Non-verbal communication includes things like gestures, sounds, eye movements, body movements...
Non-speaking communication includes things like electronic devices, symbol cards, letter boards, typing, pen & paper...
#autism
Non-verbal communication includes things like gestures, sounds, eye movements, body movements...
Non-speaking communication includes things like electronic devices, symbol cards, letter boards, typing, pen & paper...
#autism
Being non-verbal or non-speaking (or both!) is not unique to being autistic.
It’s something a lot of autistic people experience, and it‘s something people often associate with autism, but:
Many other conditions can cause speech differences!
It’s something a lot of autistic people experience, and it‘s something people often associate with autism, but:
Many other conditions can cause speech differences!
AAC
AAC means „Augmentative and Alternative Communication“ and (in short) encompasses communication methods other than oral speech.
One commonly known AAC method are electronic AAC devices that have speech output - but MANY more things are AAC!
AAC is another umbrella term.
AAC means „Augmentative and Alternative Communication“ and (in short) encompasses communication methods other than oral speech.
One commonly known AAC method are electronic AAC devices that have speech output - but MANY more things are AAC!
AAC is another umbrella term.
High tech AAC includes electronic things like dedicated AAC devices, tablets or phones with AAC apps on them (symbol-based, text-based, text-to-speech), buttons...
Low tech AAC includes non-electronic things like symbol cards, letter boards, whiteboards, pen and paper...
Low tech AAC includes non-electronic things like symbol cards, letter boards, whiteboards, pen and paper...
Autistic people may use one or several communication methods at any given time.
Some exclusively use one speech-generating-device.
Some use a large device and a back-up (e.g. a phone).
Some use low-tech methods only.
Some use high-tech methods only.
Some mix and switch.
Etc.
Some exclusively use one speech-generating-device.
Some use a large device and a back-up (e.g. a phone).
Some use low-tech methods only.
Some use high-tech methods only.
Some mix and switch.
Etc.
(This thread is unfinished but I need a break.)
