Does anybody have problems constructing sentences?

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azaam
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22 May 2013, 7:48 pm

I struggle with finding the right words while talking. It's not difficult thinking and typing as I go but I can't seem to formulate a complete sentence in my speech. I was trying to explain something to my boss today and it took me a few minutes to find the right words while he waited on me. I started mixing a whole bunch of gibberish that made no sense to him. I finally was on point after my third try. He's very patient with me and I don't feel too bad about his judgement because he already knows I am socially awkward from when he first hired me and I suspect that he knows I am autistic. Do NT's assume you're autistic if you can't construct a proper sentence? I have never met anybody that struggles with this in real life so I ask because it seems like I am only this until I log on to WP and see I am not alone.


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davidbdr
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22 May 2013, 8:14 pm

I've had similar problems. I have felt like an idiot on many occasions while talking. I'll either choose the wrong words or mispronounce words that I know perfectly well how to say. They just come out wrong. I find that I avoid speaking because of that.


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joejoe1298
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22 May 2013, 9:21 pm

I have this problem sometimes. While I am talking, I try to think of the right word to say, but I can't think of it. Instead of stuttering, I make uhh sounds because I am trying to think of how I should say my sentence. So, I end up saying a similar word to what I want to say. It makes my sentences sound weird, and then I feel awkward.



AspieWolf
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22 May 2013, 9:27 pm

Occasionally, I too have this problem, especially when the topic is a very personal one, for example my AS. Too, my mind is usually far ahead of my mouth and that causes me to sometimes skip a few words. It's sort of like a CD skipping a few blocks of data.


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Teredia
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23 May 2013, 12:35 am

my boyfriend constantly gets annoyed with me because of this. I use the wrong "tone" and words when i speak apparently. And no matter what i try n do, he wont understand why, thinks i can correct it just over night. its not that simple n i cant really find the words to explain to him why i cant construct verbal sentences properly....



The_Hemulen
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23 May 2013, 5:21 am

I have this problem. Most NTs seem to assume it means that I am nervous, which is not the reason. It's also one of the things which led to some of the staff at my university suggesting I get tested for dyslexia/dyspraxia, but they didn't suggest AS. I was diagnosed with dyspraxia and apparently it's a common symptom.



SG78
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23 May 2013, 5:31 am

I have problems with this at times. I stumble over words.



Persevero
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23 May 2013, 11:49 am

One more to add to the pile!

Hopefully my psychologist will be able to help me overcome this.



invisiblesilent
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23 May 2013, 11:52 am

Sometimes. I can be quite eloquent but when I become flustered for whatever reason I can struggle to put together even the simplest of sentences - I speak but what comes out is garbled, stammered and incoherent. It's incredibly frustrating.

edit: Also I frequently have moments in which I completely forget a word which I am extremely familiar with and might spend as much as a minute or more trying to remember it. Sometimes I don't remember it for hours.



azaam
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23 May 2013, 12:23 pm

Persevero wrote:
One more to add to the pile!

Hopefully my psychologist will be able to help me overcome this.


I think I will discuss this with my psychiatrist too.


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jerry00
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23 May 2013, 12:27 pm

Sometimes the words come out in the wrong order.

Sometimes they come out in the right order but my mind had wondered so far off topic that I ended up saying something completely irrelevant.

I don't think it happens that often though.



Marybird
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23 May 2013, 1:02 pm

I have problems with this too, but I'm usually pretty quiet and don't say much, so maybe no one notices.



Ann2011
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23 May 2013, 2:46 pm

OMG, yes!
My sentences come out all jumbled up. It's like the parts of the thought get completely scrambled when they pass into my vocal cords. For this reason, I rarely speak, and when I do, I try to be as concise as possible - less chance to get confused.



chris5000
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23 May 2013, 7:07 pm

Im the same way, I can formulate sentences in my head but when it comes to verbalizing them my mind goes blank

I have an even harder time starting a conversation



jk1
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23 May 2013, 7:09 pm

If I'm talking about something pratical and logical to a person who I know is a good listener, then I can talk very logically and clearly and he/she can fully understand me. However, in a more social situation such as unimportant small talk with people who are judgemental, then I either stumble and cannot say anything or say something stupid and get judged very harshly by them. I don't know if it's a problem with constructing a sentence or with coming up with an idea that I would then transform into a sentence.



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23 May 2013, 8:28 pm

I sometimes struggle with sentences that involve lots of changes of personal pronouns (I, him, they, and then his, hers, mine, etc). Although I am reasonably smart, and can do it easily in writing, for some reason when I go to construct sentences like this verbally, I know what I am trying to say, but it all gets mixed up and comes out in the wrong way. It is much worse when I am stressed, or tired.

I wonder sometimes why I battle with foreign languages, when I have this issue in my native language. 8O

And sometimes under pressure I can't construct a sentence at all. I think that's why I can't do small talk. If I am in a roomful of strangers, or even with one person who gives me bad vibes, it's like my mind goes completely blank and there are no words in there at all. :?