How to Explain to People about Autism

If you have a loved one with autism or you yourself have autism, sometimes you feel the need to explain it to people. For a satisfactory explanation, it is helpful to learn as much about autism as possible. You can then explain how autism affects a person’s social skills, understanding, and behavior.

Table of Contents

Understanding autism to explain to others

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Know the general concept of autism. Autism is a developmental disability that often results in differences in communication and social skills. This is a neurological difference that often causes difficulties, but there are also advantages. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Austistic Self Advocacy Network Go to Source}

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Understand that people with autism need to talk about autism. People with autism experience their own differences and impulses, so they can provide insight into the impact of autism. They also represent a more holistic view than many organizations run by parents of people with autism. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Austistic Self Advocacy Network Go to Source}

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Understand that autism is a broad spectrum disorder. This means that symptoms will manifest differently from person to person. The symptoms of autistic people are like no other. One person may have severe sensory problems but have good social skills and functioning, while another may have little sensory problems but have great difficulty in social interaction skills. basic. Because of the difference in symptoms, autism is difficult to generalize.

Keep this in mind when explaining to others about autism. You need to explain that not all people with autism act the same, just like the actions of normal people are not the same.
When describing an autistic person, you need to emphasize the individual’s needs.

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Note the difference in communication. For some people with autism, communicating with others is extremely difficult. Communication challenges are discussed in more detail in Method 2, but common communication problems associated with autism include:

The voice is unusual and even, producing strange rhythms and timbres.
Repeating questions or phrases (parody)
Difficulty expressing your needs and wants
Slow in processing spoken language, not responding quickly to instructions, or confused because too many words are spoken too quickly
Literally interpreting language (confusion for sarcasm, irony, and rhetoric)

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Understand that people with autism have a very different way of interacting with the world around them. When you talk to someone with autism, you may wonder if they really notice you, or even care about your presence. But don’t get upset about this. Remember:

Many people with autism show signs of not being interested in everything around them. They simply are not aware or pay attention to the people around them. This makes it difficult for them to connect with others.
People with autism may have a different way of listening than the average person. For example, making eye contact is so annoying and distracting for them that they may need to struggle to concentrate. As such, what you think is not paying attention is actually their adjustment to better hearing.
People with autism can act like they don’t hear what other people talk to them. This could be because they are slow to process sound, or there are too many distractions in the room. Ask them to go somewhere quieter and stop from time to time during the conversation to give them time to think.
For children with autism, playing with other children can be very challenging because complicated social rules are difficult for them to understand, and children will find it easier to not participate.

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Understand that autistic people in general enjoy order. They can create very strict timetables for the day. That’s because people with autism can be very easily alarmed by unfamiliar stimuli, and they feel more comfortable when they have a solid schedule. This feature is further explained in Method 4. Autistic people can…

Follow a strict timetable.
Very nervous about sudden changes (e.g. changes at school).
Use a relaxing object to deal with stress.
Arrange objects in order (e.g. line up toys by color and size).

Explaining social skills of autistic people to adults

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People with autism may act a little differently, and this is normal. People with autism have to deal with barriers and stressors that the average person would never face, ^{[3] X Sources of research} so they may act strange or exhibit other skills. unusual social skills. This depends on the needs and capabilities of each person.

People with good social skills can be just a little awkward and clumsy. Sometimes they make thoughtless comments that don’t fit into the conversation.
Some people with autism are unable to interact in a normal social situation.

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People with autism may not make eye contact. Eye contact is overwhelming for people with autism, and they are not able to look the other person in the eye and hear them at the same time. ^{[4] X Research Source} Explain that for people with autism, looking away and not listening are two different things.

Never force an autistic person to make eye contact. They may be afraid, ^{[5] X Research on} their speaking skills will dissipate and this can cause sensory overload.
Some people with autism are able to make eye contact without too much difficulty. Again, this depends on the individual.

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Autistic people don’t ignore the person they’re talking to. Explain that a person with autism may need to fidget or avoid eye contact in order to focus. They may look at the other person’s mouth, hands, or feet — or even look in the opposite direction. Getting angry at an autistic person will only make them avoid it.

Due to differences in sensation and attention, people with autism may find it difficult to focus on dialogue. They don’t ignore the person talking; maybe they’re struggling to engage the interaction.
Instruct others to express themselves clearly when they want to talk to someone with autism. The person should keep a close distance from the autistic person, call the autistic person’s name and preferably within their line of sight. If they don’t respond when called, the other person needs to try again because the autistic person may not be paying attention.

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Some people with autism are unable to speak (inability to speak). They can communicate using sign language or diagrams, by typing, by body gestures or behavior. Explain that a person with autism can’t speak doesn’t mean they don’t understand speech or have nothing to say.

Remind people that “striking up” is always considered condescending behavior. People with autism who cannot speak also need to be treated as equals with their peers.
As evidenced by the careers of talented, non-verbal people like Amy Sequenzia, a writer and self-speaker activist for people with autism like herself.

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Note that people with autism may not understand sarcasm, humor, or tone of voice. It is difficult for them to understand different tones, especially when the speaker’s facial expressions are not compatible with the voice.

In explaining this difficulty, you can relate using emoticons when texting. If someone texted you “Wow, that’s great”, you would assume they were telling the truth. However, if the message is accompanied by a symbol like “:-P” representing a person sticking their tongue out, you will understand that the message is a mockery.
People with autism can learn to understand figurative language. Some people are quite adept at shades of irony and humor.

Explain the difference in the way people with autism talk

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Help people understand that people with autism can show empathy in unusual ways, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have empathy. However, they may not understand how you are feeling or do not know how to respond to your feelings in the most appropriate way. Explain that many people with autism show empathy in a way that others may not realize. It makes the autistic person seem emotionless, but in reality they just don’t understand the emotions you’re going through.

Saying that it’s best for people to express their feelings clearly. For example, a person with autism may not understand why you are looking down, but if you tell them you feel sad because your father scolded you, they may know how to respond to you better.

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Tell people about the strange infatuation that often accompanies autism. Many people with autism are extremely passionate about a certain topic and can talk about them passionately all day.

Normal people may find this impolite, but in general, people with autism do not mean to belittle the thoughts and feelings of others. They may not realize that the person they’re talking to doesn’t really care about what they’re saying.
Some people with autism are very shy and shy away from discussing something they are particularly interested in for fear of being rude. In this case, they need to be reassured that it’s perfectly normal to talk about their passions from time to time, especially when the person opposite them asks about them.

Explain physical conventions

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Some people with autism cannot tolerate physical contact. This is due to sensory problems. Their responses to touch can vary widely from person to person, so it’s important to ask if they’d like to be touched.

Some people with autism enjoy physical contact. Many of them are delighted to hug family members and close friends.
You can ask if you are not sure. Ask “Do you want a hug?” or take it slow and show the autistic person so they have a chance to tell you to stop. Never approach and touch them from behind, as you might startle them to the point of panic.
This preference may change from day to day. An autistic boy who normally likes to hug and kiss suddenly refuses when asked if he wants a hug. This is often due to a difference in sensation – it may be that the person with autism is overwhelmed and can’t stand being hugged at the same time. You should not take this as a personal matter.

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Explain that many people with autism cannot tolerate certain sensory stimuli. People with autism may experience headaches from bright lights or jerks and screams if someone drops a plate on the floor. Remind people of autism’s sensitivities so they can be supportive.

Suggest that people can ask what people with autism need in response. For example, “Do you find this room too noisy? Shall we go somewhere else?”
NEVER make fun of an autistic person’s sensitivities (e.g. slamming cupboard doors to see how they jump). This can lead to emotional overload, fear or even panic attacks, and this behavior is considered bullying.

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Explain to everyone that autistic people are more likely to control their triggers when they are forewarned and prepared. ^{[6] X Research Source} In general, people with autism can handle situations better if they know what to expect, so it’s a good idea to explain to people that they should ask before doing anything. something that can startle an autistic person.

For example: “I’m going to the garage. If you want to get out of the room or cover your ears, just do it.”

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Explain that people with autism may exhibit some behaviors that are initially thought to be strange. These behaviors are called self-stimulating behaviors because they have a stimulating effect on the senses. These behaviors can help them stay calm, focused ^{[7] X Research resources} , communicate ^{[8] X Research resources} and prevent panic attacks. This may seem odd, but it’s never a good idea to stop autistic people from engaging in self-stimulating behaviors. ^{[9] X Research Source}^{[10] X Research Source} Some examples of self-stimulating behavior are:

Swinging back and forth.
Repeating words and sounds (speech parody). ^{[11] X Research Source}
Wave.
Finger snap.
Head banging. (Talk to a therapist or responsible adult if this becomes a problem. This can be physically damaging, so it is best replaced with other self-stimulating behavior, such as rapid head shaking. A therapist can help find alternative stimulating behaviors).
Dancing around and clapping excitedly.

Teaching your child about autism

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Make sure your child is ready to discuss. It’s important to be honest with your child, especially if he or she has autism, or is wondering about a friend with autism. But equally important is to make sure your child is old enough to understand what you’re saying and isn’t confused or overwhelmed. Every child is different, so there is no set standard age to start talking to children. This is up to your own taste.

If your child is autistic, it’s best to talk early. It can be stressful when you feel different from everyone else but no one can explain to you why. Young children may just need to hear simple explanations like, “I have a disability called autism, which means my brain works a little differently, and I need a therapist’s help.”

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Explain to your child that there is nothing to be upset about with autism. Let your child know that autism is a disability, not a disease or burden, and that it’s okay to be autistic. For older children, you can introduce the concept of neurodiversity and the disability rights movement; This will be beneficial for children.

Help your child understand that being different makes them unique and special. Talk about the strengths of autism: strong logic and principles, compassion, passion, focus, loyalty, and a desire to help (social responsibility).

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Encourage children. Remember to encourage your child, saying that autism makes them different but no less valuable. Your child can still comfortably participate in activities at school as well as at home and still have a happy life.

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Remember to show love to your children. Always tell your child how much you love and care for them. It is important that children receive the right support, especially when faced with a disability; children can live a happy and productive life with everyone’s support.

Advice

Don’t be disappointed if the person you’re explaining seems to ‘don’t understand’. Stay calm, try to answer their questions and help them better understand autism.
Suggest the person a few websites about autism. See the resources in this article for some suggestions.

Warning

Never stop an autistic person from engaging in self-stimulating behavior.
Use caution when referring others to autism websites. Some organizations (especially those run by parents) downplay autism and focus on tormenting instead of respect and care. You should focus on your own organization or have multiple autistic people on the board.
- Eligible sites are those that use ‘pre-identified’ language, ^{[12] X Trusted Source Austistic Self Advocacy Network Go to source} and encourage adoption and discussion of adaptation instead of treatment.

Steps