by Claire Browne
PM – Processing Mutism
AAC – Alternative and Augmentative Communication – any means of communication other than speech (mouth words) More specifically the word augmentative refers to any means of alternative communication that can supplement an individual’s existing speech or vocabulary allowing them to express themselves more freely. AAC includes gestures, pointing, sign language, using a letter board, texting, accessing electronic communication devices or picture boards and much more.
Note: For those of you who have not read my previous blogs in the series , Processing Mutism can be defined as a loss of speech due to excessive processing demands.
For the last instalment in the Processing Mutism series, I will discuss how ultimately experiencing PM has not only introduced me to but allowed me to appreciate the beautiful diversity of human communication and more broadly the myriad of ways we can connect with each other. It would be wrong to suggest that experiencing PM led to my first use of AAC, more accurately it was an opportunity for me to question why speech is the gold standard in our neuronormative society. After all, we all use AAC (regardless of neurotype), however it has become so commonplace that most people don’t even realise it (and instead automatically picture high tech AAC such as electronic communication devices). From texting, to writing notes, to minute changes in a person’s facial expression or body language, these are everyday examples of alternative communication.
For those of you who have not read my previous blogs, whilst I experienced PM I communicated using a combination of writing messages on a whiteboard, a communication card of basic needs and mouthing words. Now these methods served me very well, largely due to the fact that I had a support network of staff who were patient and understanding of the time and energy it took to convey what I wanted to say. Yet it’s only when speech is inaccessible that it becomes quite abruptly apparent how fast paced and demanding every day interactions are. This chaotic and urgent communication culture is something that I question generally as an autistic person, attempting to file reams of information into clearly defined categories of unimportant, requires my attention, imminent action needed.
Needless to say, I was more than happy to be relieved of such chaos and pressing processing demands when I spent 3 years surrounded by predominantly nonspeaking/semi speaking peers at my specialist college for physically disabled young people. It was brilliant and very refreshing to be in a space and wider community where there is absolutely no pressure to use mouth words at all, an abundance of time and patience to connect with one another in the way that suits them and most of all, a genuine celebration of the fact that all humans communicate differently. I didn’t quite realise just how much this would suit my autistic neurology until I began engaging with friends where it was common and expected to need more time to respond to questions, formulate thoughts or more specifically compose a message using an Eye-Gaze Device. Another aspect of this communication culture that suited my autistic neurology was the fact that everyone was given time and space to compose their individual messages, there was no need to spread my attention across polytropic conversations as this simply was not possible.
My experience at college further amplified how communication differs between communities and how everyone would benefit from more patience and no expectations in conversations. A brilliant example of this is the Māori word for autism ‘takiwatanga’ which literally translates as ‘in their own time and space.’
Applying this ethos to our autistic community and society is easier said than done. However, thanks to ideas originating from annual autistic led conference Autscape there are some brilliant examples of what more time and space looks like in practice. For example, the system of coloured communication badges ranging from ‘please do not initiate interaction with me’ to ‘I am able to regulate my own interaction’ was devised with the needs of autistic Autscape participants/attendees at its very core allowing them to manage their social battery and engage with others on their own terms. This very simple initiative honours an individual’s agency and supports self-advocacy, most recently being used by, and adapted for autistic led organisation Ausome Training’s Minding Autistic Minds mental health conference held in April of this year. Despite more prominence of such communication systems in autistic community spaces, they are yet to be used more generally in schools, colleges, and universities to facilitate the rich neurodiversity of each student body. This is such a shame as everyone benefits from more choice and autonomy over how they communicate, (particularly young people who may just be starting to explore their identity and assert boundaries) not just those of us who belong to minority groups.
More specifically, as a monotropic autistic person these communication systems could provide much needed control over how our finite processing resources are shared. Language by its very nature is used to share attention and being pulled out of a flow state unexpectedly to then engage in a random conversation can be very distressing and require significant transition time. By utilising badges like the ones at Autscape, monotropic autistic people (and ADHDer’s) can be safe in the knowledge that they have communicated their boundaries and will not be expected to shift their attention at a moment’s notice.
Another key benefit of offering flexibility in communication style/engagement is increased understanding of an individual’s own profile and resulting needs. This is especially important for our autistic community given the prevalence of masking (or more specifically fawning) and the consequences of neglecting warning signs of ‘low spoons’ (energy). By giving autistic people such autonomy they can begin to understand their fluctuating capacity and establish boundaries to avoid distressing experiences such as burnout.
A common theme I see discussed in autistic online communities regularly is that of supposed ‘delayed processing.’ However I have never resonated with this, instead I am acutely aware that I consciously processing an abundance of information and details that are often inconspicuous to most non autistic people. This was confirmed to be true when a 2013 research study showed that autistic people process 42% more information than non autistic people even at resting rate. Communication systems such as those at Autscape could easily accommodate this constant stimulation that is at the core of our neurotype. For example, autistic people can switch between ‘I am able to regulate my own interaction’ to ‘please do not initiate interaction with me’ to avoid the consequences of potential information overload.
I hope this blog has provided an insight into how communication differs between cultures and what we can all do to facilitate connection with one another regardless of neurotype or whether we use mouth words.
References (click to access link):
Minding Autistic Minds Conference – Ausome Training:
Neurodiversity: Basic Terms and Definitions:
Further information on autistic nonspeaker perspectives and AAC users from Neuroclastic:
Autistic Village 