Brain waves are window into autism language woes

[Kristen (ColeysMom)]

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-health/20081204/MED.Autism.Research/

Interesting, but I hated this comment:

...it could mean behavior treatment much sooner.

How about trying to CORRECT the problem, moron! And oh, BTW, we don't like your "behavior" treatments! :mad:

Other than that, interesting theory...

[milivica]

U/C!

Sounds like they're dxing dyslexia, not autism.

Let's say all they discovered is true (cause for all I know it may be). The fact remains they are giving no account to communication being 70% nonverbal...such as tone of voice, how slow of fast, how loud or quiet, a person is speaking. Is it the sounds if the words being processed more slowly, or is the ability to 'hear' nonverbal communication creating that lag? Since communication is 70% NONverbal, and autistics don't read body language, voice tone, etc... uhhh, well maybe that accounts for the communication lag. They're only getting 30% of what your communicating, just the wordsthemselves...not your intentions or perspective or mood, etc....

So what they should do this now, is make this a study that tells a parent what to DO. Take the same kids and give them more wiring aka more ability to read nonverbal communication, then redo the same test and report the typical readings.

I never understood why I could speak other languages (I can memorize fairly easily), but not understand it when spoken to....lack of my receptive nonverbal communication was why. There is SO much more to language than words. When you always have the 70% of nonverbal communication in your wiring, you cannot truly appreciate just how much it matters.

If you have a child with autism, verbal or not, stop talking to them so darn much and start referencing and using as many nonverbal cues as they can currently read. As gains are made, bump up the nonverbal communication more and more. It's not that they can't read any nonverbal cues - but do need strengthening (aka more wiring) in nonverbal communication - and they won't get that with WORDS.

[peglem]

Very good point Mili!!!

Remember my frustration with getting Allie to even look at me? Well, about a month ago I decided to try not speaking at all when she tells me what to draw. Instead, she'd have to check with me to see if I understood. So, when she'd point to her eye to signal I should draw the eyes, I'd point to my eye and kinda raise my eyebrows in a questioning way. She signed yes! (so, she understood I was questioning-she didn't repeat her request). I sometimes change her request...like she asks for eyes and I'll point to my ears. Then she'll usually change her request to whatever i "said". The interesting thing is I feel like we're communicating more in silence than we ever do when I speak.

BTW- we start RDI in a month.

[milivica]

OMG yes yes yes, exactly....communicating in silence does feel like more than speaking - and you are starting RDI - - - - WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I think you're going to take to it like a fish to water, I really do. Yes it's hard being conscious of what you do so naturally with other nt's, but nothing is as hard as not having a guide when your child needs your help, and nothing is as hard as not seeing the progress you want for your child.

You really made my night. What a great way to start the year for you guys! OH and just wait, you'll find that when you guide her, and she takes to it, it's going to feel like she has been ready for it all along...it's new and effortful for you, but not her. OMG this is just wonderful.

[Kristen (ColeysMom)]

That IS a good point Mili!

I'm sure that their observation MEANS something...but likely it's more of a symptomatic or a consequence that they are observing versus the problem itself...that'd be my guess now after thinking on it a little.

I was thinking as I was reading it, that it probably explains why noisy places, or what always kinda stuck out to me with Coley, was that he couldn't handle 2 or more voices at the same time...like someone singing along with a song...or even singing along with him...that flashed into my head while I reading it. Imagine how annoying that would be if all these individual sounds were delayed or jumbled up. No wonder he sceamed for it to stop!

So my first impression was that they found the sensory issue, not the communication issue...but then I was wondering if THAT could be the root of the communication difficulties.

Whatever it is I think you are right, it's definately NOT the bottomline...so hopefully they keep looking, versus just using this to Dx a kid to start them on meds earlier...UGH! That would $uck!

And Pegs...I got CHILLS reading your post...that's just...INCREDIBLE! :D

It won't be long now...I'm so excited for you both!!!!!

[milivica]

With Coley and noisy places though, it might be lack of ongoing appraisal...if you appraise all sights and sounds as equally important cause you can't filter out UNimportant stuff, you'd be totally overwhelmed like you describe Coley. I forget where I read this recently, it was about how nt brains operate continually filtering out 'usual' details, so for instance if you're driving you don't consciously see the color of the road, every single individual tree, every single individual car make and model around you - or you'd be totally overwhelmed. The interior of your car is familiar, no mental effort or processing necessary as you would have to if you were borrowing a friend's car. Your nt brain has ongoing appraisal, and it prevents you from paying attention consciously to things that are familiar and nonrelevant so you do not feel continually bombarded by information and overwhelmed.

Ever notice how both little kids and autistics seem to notice an incredible amount of detail, that's lack of ongoing appraisal - not always a bad thing, but bad when it makes life is too overwhelming. Probably great for art of all kinds though, aye? A brain needs to develop the ability to UNconsciously sift out nonrelevant information. Nt's are born pre-wired to do this, asd's need to develop this ability with specific strategies activities such as in RDI.

If I find the proper verbiage for this, I'll post it. It's well known, common for nt brains that have ongoing appraisal. I have a few books that talk about it. Unless you have a child with autism, it wouldn't really seem all that interesting.