Do neurotypicals go nonverbal?

[Eruva]

As far as I know my husband is neurotypical, but sometimes when he’s stressed he ceases being able to form coherent sentences, sometimes just getting out a couple syllables at a time. Something similar happens to me when I have extreme anxiety where I can get out the right words but not in the right order. I just received my ASD diagnosis last year, and hadn’t ever thought about this behavior in relation to autism. Is it normal for neurotypical people to go kind of nonverbal under stress?

 

[Judge]

Is it normal for neurotypical people to go kind of nonverbal under stress?

Good article on such concerns considering that selective mutism is not confined to those on the spectrum of autism. Though I suppose we could all argue over what is truly "selective" versus what is not...and all the conditions it may involve.

https://childmind.org/ask-an-expert...rence-between-aspergers-and-selective-mutism/

 

[SusanLR]

I've found they can go non-verbal after a round of over verbal (anger).
It seems to be a way of trying to keep the anger under control until it subsides.
Sulking maybe?

 

[Progster]

Yes, NTs can do most of the things that we do, including: meltdowns, selective mutism, difficulty processing or speaking, communications, shutdowns or sensory issues - they can have any one of these traits, but with them, the traits is usually in isolation - they have one or two that they do, but with us, it is a cluster of traits and their severity that 'earns' us our diagnosis.

 

[Iamnotarabot]

Yes, NTs can do most of the things that we do, including: meltdowns, selective mutism, difficulty processing or speaking, communications, shutdowns or sensory issues - they can have any one of these traits, but with them, the traits is usually in isolation - they have one or two that they do, but with us, it is a cluster of traits and their severity that 'earns' us our diagnosis.

I would also say that many times one autistic behaviour is caused by another autistic trait !

This topic is very intersting, Somehow it is related to how autism diagnostic is hard especially on adults since you can find most of the traits and behaviour issues in others NT.

But about your husband, being so stressed to the point of not being
able to form coherent sentences like you said, is something to be considered seriously and he should see a specialist to know what is going on in his life anyway, autism or not mental health is important.

 

[Mr Allen]

The late Professor Stephen Hawking was NT, and he went non verbal as a result of what was wrong with him, towards the end he "spoke" using an onboard vocal synthesizer on his wheelchair.