Board index › General Discussion › General Autism Discussion

Mute Autistics Question

Page 2 of 2 [ 22 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

Previous topic | Next topic

wavefreak58
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Age: 66
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,419
Location: Western New York

24 Dec 2010, 7:03 pm

anbuend wrote:
What I was talking about with people dxed with AS was that if their initial speech had those particular problems it could eventually devolve into lack of speech, especially with autistic catatonia tacked on. I know several people dxed as AS due to early speech who are nonspeaking now.


Seems to me AS would be the wrong diagnosis. Using speech is not enough. Echolalia and other atypical speech patterns are part of straight autism, aren't they?


_________________
When God made me He didn't use a mold. I'm FREEHAND baby!
The road to my hell is paved with your good intentions.


Verdandi
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 7 Dec 2010
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 12,275
Location: University of California Sunnydale (fictional location - Real location Olympia, WA)

24 Dec 2010, 7:07 pm

wavefreak58 wrote:
anbuend wrote:
What I was talking about with people dxed with AS was that if their initial speech had those particular problems it could eventually devolve into lack of speech, especially with autistic catatonia tacked on. I know several people dxed as AS due to early speech who are nonspeaking now.


Seems to me AS would be the wrong diagnosis. Using speech is not enough. Echolalia and other atypical speech patterns are part of straight autism, aren't they?


anbuend made the point in an earlier post that these were sloppy/incorrect diagnoses.



SabbraCadabra
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,768
Location: Michigan

27 Dec 2010, 8:41 am

pensieve wrote:
You're right. Selective mutism is not a choice. I remember wanting to break out of it. I would have conversations with the person in front of me in my head.


Definitely.

I hate when it happens to me. I'll try to say something, but it won't come out, so I'll say it over and over in my head, louder and louder until I'm shouting it, hoping they'll hear me...but nothing comes out :cry:


_________________
I'll brave the storm to come, for it surely looks like rain...


flyingdutchman
Blue Jay
Blue Jay

User avatar

Joined: 21 Dec 2010
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Posts: 89

27 Dec 2010, 4:55 pm

I read somewhere that mutism is a form of catatonia. From time to time I have problems with catatonia, although mostly not that strong.
But for mutism I do not know how to interpret it. Sometimes I notice that I need to say something, and I also know what to say, but somehow nothing comes out. I also sometimes have issues with speaking. Then it seems like my mouth is frozen, I have difficulty moving it. A bit like slurred speach.

But what I read hear about not being able to find words that match the content seems most familiar. I noticed that I can write something that is understandable and makes sence. But most of the time when I talk it seems like mostly nonsense comes out. Of course, sometimes I like to make fun and say nonsense things or make sounds or repeat things I hear on the radio. Even some of my colleagues do that. But when I need to say something meaningful, it also sounds like I am not being serious. Only sometimes I am capable of saying something that sounds acceptable, but then it sounds strange to me, like I am putting up an act.

So what is mutism exactly? Is it about the speach content, or the speach movements, or both?



jamesongerbil
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,001

27 Dec 2010, 6:03 pm

buryuntime wrote:
foobabe wrote:
My friends child is 11 and he has AS he also has selective mutism.
He can speak very well at home but no where else.
I have known him for years and he has never spoken to me
Stress and sensory overload affect him very badly

This is basically me.

I also do not talk well when really stressed, either, even if it is at home. So what if I'm not selectively mute and simply can't because of stress and confusion outside of the home? I don't know. Where does autism end?

I don't think anybody chooses not to talk. Selective mutism makes it seem like you selectively chose when to talk but that isn't how it happens.
Some people actually choose to be silent for a statement, like silent monks or my one classmate (for a day.) what that statement is/was, though, I don't know. The term "selective mutism" is certainly misleading....



Malisha
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 7 Dec 2010
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 193

27 Dec 2010, 6:16 pm

Mutism is a touchy issue for me. I'm actually hyperlexic. Started speaking at six months old. Full sentences by nine months.
I can give you a perfect presentation on illuminated manuscripts created by women between the years 900 and 1300.
I cannot ask you for salt at the dinner table. I just don't remember how. It frustrated me to tears sometimes.
I just sit there and smile and nod.
People who don't know me think that I am very stupid.
It's sad.

**edit

Sad, because I have spent my whole life obsessed with words and language and stories. I keep thinking that if I know enough words, eventually I will be able to effectively communicate with humans. I'm about to start working on my third language.