A new study from the University of Edinburgh challenges the common belief that autistic people struggle to communicate effectively. Published in Nature Human Behaviour, the research found that autistic and non-autistic people are equally effective at passing on information when communicating with others.
This discovery suggests that communication difficulties often experienced by autistic individuals may be due more to differences in communication styles than a lack of social ability.
Autism is a lifelong neurodivergence that affects how people experience and interact with the world. Many autistic people communicate more directly and may have trouble picking up on social cues like body language and facial expressions. This difference often leads to misunderstandings and stereotypes about their ability to connect with others.
However, the new study shows that these differences do not mean autistic people are less effective at communicating. In fact, when paired with others who share their communication style, they communicate just as well as non-autistic people do with each other.
The research involved 311 participants, split into three types of groups: all autistic, all non-autistic, and mixed groups of both. The experiment tested how well information was passed along a chain of people. The first person in each group listened to a story from the researcher and then retold it to the next person, who did the same, and so on.
The last person in the chain then shared the story aloud, and researchers measured how much information was successfully passed along. Surprisingly, there were no significant differences between the three types of groups. Autistic people were just as effective at remembering and communicating the details as non-autistic people.
The study also asked participants to rate how much they enjoyed interacting with others in their group. The results showed that non-autistic participants generally preferred interacting with other non-autistic people, while autistic participants felt more comfortable with other autistic individuals.
Researchers believe this is because of the differences in communication styles. Non-autistic people often rely on subtle social cues, small talk, and body language, while autistic people tend to be more direct and focused on the content of the conversation. When both groups communicated with people who shared their style, the interactions felt smoother and more enjoyable.
These findings build on a previous smaller study led by the same research team. Both studies suggest that autistic communication is not flawed—it’s just different. The researchers hope this understanding will help reduce the stigma around autism and lead to better communication support for autistic people.
Dr. Catherine Crompton, the study’s lead author and a researcher at the University of Edinburgh’s Center for Clinical Brain Sciences, said that society often tries to “fix” autistic communication, but this study shows that autistic communication is effective in its own right.
She believes that recognizing these differences rather than labeling them as impairments can help create more inclusive environments.
Dr. Crompton highlighted that the misunderstanding of autistic communication styles has led to fewer opportunities for autistic people in social and work settings. Many people assume that autistic individuals cannot communicate well, leading to barriers in employment, education, and social relationships.
The study’s findings suggest that instead of trying to change how autistic people communicate, society should learn to appreciate and understand their unique styles. This shift could help bridge the communication gap and reduce the isolation many autistic people experience.
Researchers hope these results will encourage workplaces, schools, and social settings to rethink their communication practices. For example, rather than forcing autistic people to adapt to non-autistic styles, environments could be made more flexible to accommodate different ways of communicating.
This could include more direct communication, clear instructions, and less reliance on reading subtle social cues.
The study represents an important step toward understanding autism as a difference rather than a deficit. It suggests that social difficulties experienced by autistic people are not due to a lack of ability but rather a mismatch in communication styles.
By recognizing and respecting these differences, society can create more inclusive spaces where autistic and non-autistic people can connect more easily and effectively.
If you care about autism, please read studies about a new cause of autism, and cats may help decrease anxiety for kids with autism.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about vitamin D that may hold the clue to more autism, and results showing strange eating habits may signal autism.
The research findings can be found in Nature Human Behaviour.
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