Communication Impairment

Communication Impairment
Communication is more complicate than knowing the meaning of words. It takes recognition and understanding of cultural phrases. Communication is a central impairment to the autism disorder (Sigman & Capps, 1997, p.72). Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the nervous system. This in turn affects the sensory system, which causes an impairment in communicating (Rosenberg, 2001, p.6). Autistic children have difficulty communicating for many reasons. There are three main impairments in communicating: a delay, or total lack of any spoken communication, the inability to speak properly to others, and a repetitive use of language.
By the age of two and a half, most children have developed ways to communicate. These ways may include communicating through speaking short phrases or by giving gestures. Autistic people may not have the ability to speak or they may not know how to communicate what they are feeling. One main reason for problems with spoken communication is confusion.   People with autism become easily confused when faced with new or unusual information (Rosenberg, 2001, p.16). When autistic people are confused, they may acquire problems with receptive and expressive communication (Hart, 1993, p.164). Receptive communication is how people comprehend information they have heard. Expressive communication is how a person speaks his or her thoughts and feelings.   Most autistic people have problems with either receptive or expressive communication. People with autism may have apraxia, also known as dyspraxia. This is the inability to move the mouth and tongue to from words.   Apraxia is a treatable communication problem. When apraxia is treated, an autistic person can learn to form words. There are other impairments which are not as treatable.
Proper etiquette, when communicating, is not often taught, but learned through observing others. In the “theory of mind” explanation of autism, autistic people are unable to think about...