Summary: According to a recent study, autistic individuals describe nonverbal interaction as an arduous “unwritten language” that they must decipher in real time. Reviewing plenty of first records, researchers found that some challenge to interpret facial expressions and body language while trying to perform expected signals themselves.
The Double Empathy Problem, or DEA, is a psychological disorder that frequently causes miscommunications and cultural anxiety. The study calls for more diverse communication strategies, allowing those with autism to show themselves honestly, and lowering the pressure of imitating dyslexic behavior.
Important Information:
- Decoding and executing visual cues is described as emotionally exhausting for autistic adults.
- Miscommunications frequently occur in both ways, not just from the disabled person.
- Diverse strategies like distinct language, patience, and respecting choices improve interactions.
University of Portsmouth
Imagine if every expression and gaze in a conversation felt like a test. You’re juggling vision email, facial expressions, and tone of voice, all while trying to keep up with the terms. You may not be able to find anything, or one might interpret you differently.  ,
In a new study, published in , PLOS One, autistic adults describe the intense mental effort it takes to navigate nonverbal communication ( NVC).  ,
Researchers examined 362 authenticated accounts on the virtual forum WrongPlanet. online, where autistic people openly talk about communication difficulties.
They reviewed 26 discussion threads to better understand from autistic people what it is like to speak in daily life and reviewed articles about nonverbal communication, such as eye contact, tone of voice, movements, and physical expressions.  ,
From interpreting facial expressions to regulating their own body language, many said it felt like trying to decode a complex, unwritten language in real time.
One participant complained that speaking while also monitoring eye contact and gestures felt like there was” too much going on,” while another expressed their distaste for nonverbal cues as they were” too open to misinterpretation” and wished people would just say what they have to say and not leave so much unspoken.
They discovered that processing body language and other nonverbal signals requires more time and mental effort from autistic adults. A smile or shift in tone doesn’t always register right away or may have non-literal meaning, and the effort to “perform” the expected body language can be overwhelming.  ,
These difficulties frequently cause miscommunications, both on the autism person’s side and those around them. This mutual disconnect, known as the Double Empathy Problem, can contribute to social anxiety and misunderstandings, and even reduce quality of life for autistic adults. Many participants cited the fact that their nonverbal cues weren’t in line with expectations as being misinterpreted, unfairly judged, ignored, or treated as untrustworthy.
Some autistic people try to mimic non-autistic behavior by studying gestures, enrolling in acting classes, or by stealing TV characters as a way to cope. Others prefer to communicate in writing, where the pressure of body language disappears.
And many find strength in being authentic rather than imposing themselves on others as a non-autistic or neurotypical person, which was generally accepted as unrealistic.
The research’s team included PhD researcher Holly Radford from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Psychology, Sport and Health Sciences, as well as other autistic and non-autistic experts. Ms Radford’s own experiences as an autistic person helped shape the study’s approach.  ,
She continued,” Our study confirms what many autistic adults know intimately: that nonverbal communication can feel like decoding a complex, unwritten language in real time.” As both a researcher and an autistic person, I hope this work helps people understand the genuine effort involved in these daily interactions”.
Dr. Steven Kapp, a researcher with autism, is one of the co-authors, along with Bronte Reidinger from Rowan University in the US and Dr. Ashley de Marchena from Drexel University. Both individuals contributed to the collaboration by bringing personal connections and a long-standing interest in autism.  ,
Their collaboration was facilitated by the network-focused research organization AASPIRE ( Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education ). NVC is a defining characteristic of autism, according to Dr. de Marchena, but very few labs study it in adults. When I met Steven through AASPIRE, and learned that he might be interested in a collaboration, I felt like I had won the lottery!
One of the most valuable experiences of my professional career was presenting our findings to Holly and Steven, two autistic scholars who live the experiences our participants were describing daily.
Dr. Kapp continued,” This study challenges the biased notion that communication issues are exclusive to those with autism.” The Double Empathy Problem shows us that misunderstandings happen in both directions – non-autistic people also struggle to understand autistic communication styles.
What we also discovered in the forum discussions is that autistic adults are incredibly sensitive to their own experiences, and many have come up with creative ways to navigate a world that wasn’t designed with their communication needs in mind.
There is a need for everyone to create more inclusive communication environments, according to the statement,” Rather than expecting only autistic people to adapt constantly.”
This study offers clear advice for anyone who wants to communicate more effectively with autistic friends, family members, students, coworkers and patients. This includes evaluating how someone communicates, giving themselves more time to process responses, avoiding false beliefs based on body language, and being open to direct or written communication when it works best.
The team hopes that their research will enable more effective, inclusive communication.  ,
Making room for the various communication styles can help to reduce miscommunication, promote mental health, and foster stronger, more respectful relationships for everyone, according to Ms. Reidinger.  ,
” The strategies autistic adults have developed, from preferring written communication to being more direct in their expressions, have important implications for fostering inclusive social interactions in contexts such as healthcare, education, and dating.”
Advice on conversing with those who are autistic:
Give someone more time to process or respond to what you’re saying. Don’t rush or interrupt as autistic people may need a moment to interpret nonverbal cues. Give people time to finish their thoughts, even if they aren’t indicating that they are still thinking.
Use concise language: Use body language as supplementary language. Ask questions to confirm understanding instead of assuming. Say,” I’m happy if your face is blank,” for instance. ” to prevent confusion.
Learn preferences: Some autistic individuals prefer written or very direct communication. Ask what works best, if possible, to chat or text rather than face-to-face, or to make specific gestures that are meaningful.
Check your assumptions: Don’t make assumptions about what an autistic person is thinking or feeling based on their body language or facial expressions; instead, don’t trust an autistic person to interpret your non-verbal cues without clarification.
Encourage authenticity: Don’t pressure someone to act more like a neurotypical person by forcing eye contact or constant smiling if it isn’t natural. In the study, participants valued being sincere over “performing inauthentic nonverbal cues.”  ,
About this ASD and communication research news
Author: Robyn Montague
Source: University of Portsmouth
Contact: Robyn Montague – University of Portsmouth
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Open access to original research
” There is just too much going on there”: Nonverbal communication experiences of autistic adults” by Holly Radford et al. ONE PLOS ONE
Abstract
” There is just too much going on there,” according to the autistic adult’s experiences with nonverbal communication.
Background
Atypical nonverbal communication is required for a diagnosis of autism, yet little is known about how autistic adults use gestures, facial expressions, and other nonverbal behaviours in social interactions, especially from autistic adults ‘ perspectives.
The goals of this study were to understand: ( 1 ) autistic adults ‘ experiences with using nonverbal communication in interactions; ( 2 ) how nonverbal communication affects autistic people’s lives; and ( 3 ) how autistic adults manage differences in nonverbal communication.
Methods
27 messages from the wrongplanet discussion forum on the internet. net, all containing dialogue focused on nonverbal communication, were subjected to qualitative analysis. Deductive and inductive coding was used to identify excerpts that dealt with miscommunication-related experiences, communication weaknesses, and compensatory tactics. 362 excerpts total, with a kappa of 79. Coded excerpts were then extracted and examined for themes, using member checking.
Results
Major themes included: ( 1 ) Cognitive differences and nonverbal communication, which have led to autistic adults requiring more time and energy to manage nonverbal communication in interactions; ( 2 ) bilateral nonverbal communication is ; ( 3 ) Nonverbal communication differences can negatively impact autistic adults ‘ lives and wellbeing; ( 4 ) autistic adults use a range of skills and strategies to manage nonverbal communication; and ( 5 ) Autistic adults demonstrate&nbs
Conclusion
In line with previous qualitative research on the communication experiences of autistic adults, some of our themes, including mutual miscommunication and the negative effects of atypical communication, are consistent with these issues. The current findings provide new insight into the internal and external factors influencing the nonverbal communication experiences of autistic adults, in particular the cognitive processes involved.
We advocate for solutions that shift the burden of effective communication to everyone in society. For instance, allowing others to communicate in their preferred ways and checking whether a message was received correctly rather than making assumptions.
