As a scientifically oriented person, I usually don’t participate in banter unless collocutors are talking about the weather and natural disasters (in scientific circles banter is considered a low-level activity reserved for poorly educated people).
I have had conversations with autistic people about more serious topics, and didn’t notice any difference between their responses and responses of NTs.
As for the processing delays, there is no data supporting the hypothesis of their existence in autistic people. Some autistic individuals may be slow to respond but this might be due to their desire to come up with a better presentation of their ideas, not to slow thinking processes.
It wouldn’t be the first time when I run into unproven hypotheses that have a little to do with the reality (this contention applies to many fields, not just to research in autism).
Not all scientists are born equal, so to speak; while some researchers make valuable contributions to various branches of science, their antipodes waste tons of paper pushing forward their stillborn brainchild.
You bring up two, independent thoughts. (1) The topic of auditory processing delays is well-studied. If you do a general Google Scholar search for scientific articles on the topic of "autism and auditory processing delays" you will find many articles on the topic. (2) Your second statement may be true in that, in an attempt to come up with a well-thought out response, there is a delay. In a one-on-one conversation this is less apparent, as one is often allowed time to respond. However, add in a third person to the conversation, and the quick back and forth banter that neurotypicals often engage in often leaves us behind and we end up not knowing when to jump in and out of the conversation without it becoming awkward or disruptive to the flow. This happens to me more often than not and is why I often have to leave the conversation. Furthermore, in order to verbalize my well-thought out statement, I have to revisit a topic after the conversation has moved on to something else, which, again, is disruptive to the flow.
When I suggest there is a processing delay, it's more the fact that myself, and many others are not able to participate in that quick back and forth style of group conversation without being awkward or disruptive to the flow.
Having said that, I clearly experienced this auditory processing delay when interacting with a bank teller a few hours ago. I would tell him one thing, he then repeated the request back with different wording, and I seriously had to pause to take in what he said, not sure that he understood, then I repeated my request as if he wasn't quite understanding. We did this a few times. It was as if we were talking past each other or not having the same conversation. I was like,
"What the heck is going on here?" This is just a single example of countless times that I experienced this sort of interaction with people. Phone conversations are terrible, as I often ask people to repeat things.
Even here, in a forum, many of us will have well-thought out posts, which I enjoy immensely. As say, compared to other social media outlets where people will banter back and forth with one or two sentence responses.
Google Search: "Autism, auditory processing delays, and conversation skills":
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Auditory processing delays are commonly experienced by individuals with autism, which can significantly impact their conversation skills by making it difficult to understand spoken language, particularly in noisy environments, leading to challenges in following conversations, interpreting social cues, and effectively communicating their own thoughts and needs.
Key points about autism, auditory processing delays, and conversation skills:
- Difficulty with sound processing:
People with autism often struggle to filter out background noise, making it hard to focus on a single speaker in a conversation, which can lead to misunderstandings and missed information.
- Challenges with interpreting verbal cues:
Auditory processing delays can hinder the ability to pick up on subtle nuances in tone of voice, which are crucial for understanding social cues and emotional states in conversation.
- Impact on language comprehension:
Difficulty processing sounds can lead to challenges in understanding the meaning of words and sentences, even when the words themselves are heard clearly.
- Social communication challenges:
These combined factors can create significant difficulties in engaging in reciprocal conversation, maintaining eye contact, and responding appropriately to social cues.
Common signs of auditory processing delays in autistic individuals:
- Covering ears in noisy environments
- Difficulty following instructions or conversations with multiple speakers
- Misinterpreting what is being said, even in quiet settings
- Appearing distracted or not responding when spoken to
- Sensitivity to certain sounds
How to support communication for individuals with autism and auditory processing delays:
- Speak clearly and slowly: Use simple language and enunciate words carefully.
- Minimize background noise: Find quiet spaces to converse or use noise-cancelling headphones when necessary.
- Use visual aids: Incorporate visual cues like facial expressions, gestures, or written prompts to enhance understanding
- Repeat key information: Reiterate important points to ensure comprehension
- Provide time to process: Give the person time to think before responding
- Check for understanding: Regularly ask if they are following the conversation and clarify any confusion
Professional support:
- Speech therapy:
Specialized speech therapy can help individuals with auditory processing challenges develop strategies to improve their listening skills and communication abilities.
- Occupational therapy:
Sensory integration therapy can address sensory sensitivities related to sound
- Behavioral interventions:
Strategies to manage anxiety and improve focus in social situations can be beneficial