Communication Difficulties Society!

This is a serious issue for me unfortuantely.

I have a hearing impairment called Hyperacusis which means that my hearing is rather sensitive. This means that if there's more than one person talking, I can't always hear them clearly. More than one noise means it goes into one horrible loud noise. At which point, it's not that unusual for me to go non verbal, which is rather scary.

I have Autism, which means I have problems with verbal and non-verbal communication. I have a lot of problems explaining what I mean and I have a lot of problems understanding what other people mean. You have to tell me what you really mean. You can for example, use similies and methaphors on me. They might as well be a different language to me. In my head I know what I mean; but it doesn't always come out how I intended. It's not that unusual for me to receive a message from a friend of mine (who, before retiring, taught Communication at A level) with the words "I don't understand what you really mean". My lack of understanding of language was why I was forced to tell him in the first place that I had Autism, which he responded with "I am aware that you have problems communicating". It can sometimes take me a few minutes to realise what you really mean. So if I go quiet, I'm not being rude. I'm just trying to process what you've said to me.

You, I think missed out visual impairment from your list. (and a "r" in the word stroke!)

Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really appreciated. How do you find this affects things like education/work/relationships?

I am studying to become a Speech and Language Therapist in the hopes that I can, in the future, help people overcome some of the many communication difficulties out there.

My best wishes to anyone trying to find a way to cope/overcome

Thank for making this thread bubbles

Attached with my diagnosis of autism, I had a speech impairment. As such, up to the age of about 17 I found it quite difficult to communicate my thoughts both speech wise and written wise. I'm a lot better now than I used to be, but I always am consciously worrying about how I come off to people when I meet them for the first time or how they see me write.

I have a stutter. I have good days and bad days.

There's a few things.

I struggle to read between the lines.
I struggle with intonation and when I speak there is often little discernible difference between my various emotions.
I find common social conventions like pleasantries incredibly taxing.
I find it incredibly difficult to look at people in the eyes when I speak to them.
I can become so gripped by anxiety that I'm unable to communicate my thoughts.
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I don't really deal with the above. It takes too much effort to force myself to look at people when I speak and do other things so I tend to avoid interaction unless I have to or am with people who tolerate my eccentricities.

I'm not sure I knew that, and even after meeting you I wouldn't have 'guessed'! So thank you for sharing this. In what way do you think you'll come across? Is there anything you think helps?

I always am consciously worrying about how I come off to people when I meet them for the first time or how they see me write.

I have a little bit of everything, but the main one is dyspraxia

Well for me, it was doing activities that helped me build my confidence, because for me I did feel that their was a link between the two. Personally, I do find myself quite annoying sometimes as I want to say x but end up saying y instead. It's not as bad now, but I do have off days as such.

You're working with adults atm right?

Does this affect your communication/social interaction then? (Obviously don't answer if you don't want to )