Found out why people talk to us like we're deaf.

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The other day, I was putting together a poster about autism for a Health assignment. My dad suggested that I use his Autism Society stuff for the poster, and quickly brought me a business card that has tips for dealing with autism.

"Talk slowly so they can understand you."

I quite literally face-palmed. That's why people talk to us like we're deaf. The ASA tells them to.

Anyone have any other experiences with this scenario?

Does "Oh, Fnord is here. I guess we'll all have to talk slowly so he can keep up" seem familiar?

In Quebec, just being an American is enough to get the yelling so you can understand treatment, but they do it on purpose.

Although I am not deaf, I have a tendency to watch people's lips when listening to them speak. For some reason I seem better able to process the audible part of what they are saying, if I also see them saying it. I have always done this, and have often been told to look people in the eye, because I was busy watching their lips instead. I know that I tend to absorb input better visually, so I think that is part of it. I also don't like talking on the phone much for that reason. I think I have a harder time making sense of what they are saying if I can't see them talking. I also can't stand it when there is a lot of static on a radio station that I am listening to. It really interferes with my ability to make sense of the program, and really ticks me off. I usually change the station, and, if nothing better is on, end up having to turn off the radio.

Being Aspy has caused many problems for me, but at least I now know the cause of my differentness. Most of my life I just felt like a freak. I knew I wasn't ret*d, or crazy, but I am not NT either. Not knowing the cause of my problems added to my stress. Now that I know what's wrong with me I can handle the stress better.

Remember, we on the spectrum are all:

A Different Drummer

If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
Perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears,
However measured or far away.

--Henry David Thoreau

"Talk slowly so they can understand you."

Regardless of one's ability, how patronizing.
The problem is "talking slowly" is often in practice "talking down" to someone. I think, even if someone has language processing issues, they shouldn't be patronized."

I am not sure why you would "talk slowly" to a deaf person.

I live in a specialist care setting for autistic people. Here the staff speak to each individual in whatever way is suitable for their functioning level. One of the guys has very poor understanding of speech if you talk too fast, but if you speak slowly to him, he completely understands. I need people to enunciate every word rather than speak slowly. Some of us can be spoken to quickly and will understand but I am not one of them.

_________________
I have HFA, ADHD, OCD & Tourette syndrome. I love animals, especially my bunnies and hamster. I skate in a roller derby team (but I'll try not to bite )

i had a teacher back in middle school who did this and it annoyed the hell out of me.

Reminds me of an old public service announcement on the radio during the seventies in our area. It was supposed to be about sensitivity to cultural differences.

It featured a redneck sounding woman shouting, "IF THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, JUST TALK LOUDER!! !! !! !!"