Makaton.

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My communication difficulties have become worse. I get extreme exhaustion from processing thoughts into speech. I have been getting migraines and severe fatigue as a response to conversations, which is basically my brain's way of saying "this is too much, I cannot cope with this central processing".

I am considering to learn Makaton. I plan to still speak sometimes (as not everyone knows Makaton and I don't always have a support worker with me; and my parents, who thankfully don't live with me, are totally intolerant of my communication difficulties) but when possible I would like to be able to use Makaton or similar communication aids.

Can anyone suggest how I could go about learning Makaton, or of any other communicaton aids I could use?

I'll have to do research on Makaton.

Good luck on it!

This might be a good place to start https://www.makaton.org/training/findTraining ?

Did a search for a beginners workshop in the south east and this is what came up:
London SW17
Chislehurst (near Bromley)

It depends what you plan to use it for. Makaton signs are limited (about 350 signs) but are great for expressing basic wants, ideas and feelings.
I started off with fingerspelling which is easy to learn because there's only 26 shapes but you can say whatever you want. Then I progressed to sign language.

From what I understand, Makaton is basically a sign language designed to be as iconic as possible, for people who have trouble understanding or using non-iconic symbols.

Whether it would be the best option for you would depend on what exactly is interfering with using speech effectively. If it's mostly an issue with generating fast complex movements, you would probably be better off using a typing-based system, because sign language movements are pretty complicated too. Plus, if you can type without issues, anyone capable of reading English can understand you.

If it's that you'd find a visuospatial system easier than a verbal one, then any sign language would work. In which case I'd recommend whichever sign language is most likely to be understand by people you interact with. Whether that be Makaton, or ASL, or any other sign language.

If you find your ability to connect symbols to meaning starts breaking down when you're overloaded, Makaton or maybe even a picture-based system (such as PECS) might work best for you.

Thanks for the information.

I will have to think about it though.

What is PECS like?

I have had several experiences in the past when I've been detained under the Mental Health Act by the police for things I've done in meltdowns and I usually go nonverbal during such experiences (all I can do is scream, and try to gesture if I'm not handcuffed), but that is an extreme example. At uni I struggle with communication frequently, and even going to a hospital appointment can trigger me off on a nonverbal episode.

I have a text to speech app on my Android but it is a rubbish free one. I guess if I want a better one I'd have to pay. Money, which I don't have.