'speaking loudly'

[Aspergers_Aspie]

I have a friend, who has said to me a few times he feels he speaks loudly. He is autistic too. I hope he doesn't feel to self conscious about this.

 

[Outdated]

If he does speak really loudly all the time then I hope he takes his own advice to heart and trains himself better instead of "feeling self conscious about it". It's a social faux pas that will dramatically affect how everyone else relates to him.

There's a few stereotypes associated with that overly loud speaking, it makes people think of overcompensation for a lack of self confidence, it also makes people think of intellectual disabilities and anger management issues. Not a good way to set a first impression.

 

[Cutesie]

If he does want to change how he sounds, it's best not to try doing it alone. Either a professional or just a friend would be able to help better. There are also apps that he can use.

 

[JayLapointe]

I can relate. In grade 1 my Teacher actually used to call me Guy Smiley because of being loud. For those that don't know Guy Smiley was a Sesame Street character, a game show host. Many other teachers after that in elementary also would comment on the loudness and as a result I became rather self conscious about it young and basically taught myself to speak quietly. At the time I didn't know I was autistic, thought I was just a loud somewhat odd child.

Often enough though, especially if I'm excited or agitated I forget and the volume comes back. I've startled folks as a result. Then too sometimes I'm apparently tone deaf and people often think I'm angry/upset when I'm not at all, or it's misconstrued for rudeness.

 

[the_tortoise]

If he does speak really loudly all the time then I hope he takes his own advice to heart and trains himself better instead of "feeling self conscious about it". It's a social faux pas that will dramatically affect how everyone else relates to him.

There's a few stereotypes associated with that overly loud speaking, it makes people think of overcompensation for a lack of self confidence, it also makes people think of intellectual disabilities and anger management issues. Not a good way to set a first impression.

Most people i know would assume a person had hearing loss if they consistently spoke too loudly.

Anger would only be assumed if they sounded angry.

The ID thing...that depends on what they say in what context, not volume alone. (And it disturbs me always how people with ID are devalued and othered - ID shouldn't be seen as a bad thing anymore than autism in my opinion - I think ID should be recognized, understood, supported and accomodated and accepted as a neutral thing that just is, for better or worse.)

The self confidence thing is interesting, I would never think that but it makes a kind of sense how people might assume or wonder about that

 

[Jumpinbare]

People usually ask me to speak up, if anything.

 

[Matthias]

I agree that loud speech usually indicates an emotional disturbance/mental problem (low self-confidence, anger, too excited, agitated, etc.) and that hearing loss could be an explanation if a person is elderly.

 

[FayetheADHDsquirrel]

I speak too loudly as well as too fast when I get excited, but I'm pretty sure people can tell it's excitement not anger.

 

[Judge]

My NT cousin used to always raise her voice when she was angry. And yet never really be aware of it, even when others began to notice in public places.

 

[velociraptor]

how everyone else relates to him.

Or doesn't relate to him. There's a reason why I'm always aware where all the exits to the room are and which are the optimal routes to use.

 

[Outdated]

I speak too loudly as well as too fast when I get excited, but I'm pretty sure people can tell it's excitement not anger.

Raising your voice when angry or excited is perfectly normal and even expected, but some people seem to yell even when they're trying to have a private conversation. One of my neighbours is like this, I've even mentioned it to him a couple of times, speaking so loud all the time that the rest of the street has no choice but to listen to it.

This neighbour fits many of the stereotypes that go with that loud speaking too. Football fanatic that yells and screams at the TV, alcoholic, gambler, anger management issues, and not the sharpest tool in the shed.

 

[Mary Terry]

I agree that loud speech usually indicates an emotional disturbance/mental problem (low self-confidence, anger, too excited, agitated, etc.) and that hearing loss could be an explanation if a person is elderly.

My sister was born profoundly deaf. She's 60 years old now and she often speaks way too loudly in settings where people normally speak in quiet tones. Or she speaks too softly in places where the ambient noise drowns out her voice. She has done that since she first started talking so, no, it's not due to her being "elderly". Her deafness precludes her ability to know how loudly to talk. I took her to the orthopedist yesterday and signaled to her that she was too loud talking to her husband on her cell phone while we were in the waiting room with a dozen other patients, all of whom were craning their necks to stare at the woman who was talking too loudly on her phone.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I have a friend, who has said to me a few times he feels he speaks loudly. He is autistic too. I hope he doesn't feel to self conscious about this.

Speaking loudly within the context of autism can be caused by several things:
1. Sensory processing differences
2. Difficulties with reading social cues
3. Self-regulation challenges
4. Excitement and emotional expression
5. Auditory perception differences

I typically speak softly and with purpose... and much of this is conscious effort given the nature of my work within the neonatal ICU, both for parents and their baby. However, I will occasionally have times when I speak too loudly... and get an immediate reaction from the people around me. A bit embarrassing given the professional nature of my environment.

However, I do recall... several times... when I might be giving patient report at shift change... and often times this is done in small rooms, but with other colleagues who are also giving report. Sometimes with my auditory processing difficulties... small room, multiple conversations... I quite literally, cannot hear myself think. I have an inner monologue all the time, so when I can't hear that due to external noise, emotionally... I think I have to speak over top of this conversational cacophony... my volume raises... people pause, look at me... oops!