I’ve been consulting with a college student who experienced a closed head injury this winter. She’s a very bright, capable student but she was telling me about the struggles she has had since her accident.
Thinking and processing language and remembering are difficult. Right now, writing is easier for her than trying to express herself verbally.
Her communication challenges have improved since her accident, but it’s not all better yet. Trying to do the “mental” work to accomplish her schoolwork is exhausting. It drains her energy.
This conversation reminded me of an online post I read recently, written by Lou, an autistic adult (who works in a professional job). Lou stated that communication in the work environment is “draining.” Interesting. . . how they both talked about being drained.
Lou commented that in her office she received some communication from a co-worker in an email. She related she was “aware of a lack of mental drain in processing the email. Nothing was subjective. Nothing was unclear.”
Hmmmmmm . . . . makes me think. College student. . . writing easier than verbal expression. Lou. . . . written communication reduced her stress.
Visual strategies! They help in so many ways.
I wonder how exhausted our autistic students get from all the communication demands they face every day.
Lou mentioned feeling “bombarded” with communication. How many of our students feel like that. If not all the time, perhaps they feel like that at least some of the time.
Is there any relationship between being “bombarded” and engaging in stimming? Running away? Whining and crying? Hiding under a desk? Focusing on an iPad or a favorite toy that helps ignore the rest of the world?
Think about those days when YOU are tired. Or hungry. Or overwhelmed with too much to do. Or it’s just too loud in this room. How do you respond?
Do you ever feel like escaping? Or do you ever engage in some kind of “brainless” activity. (I understand coloring is becoming a popular adult activity.)
Lou and the college student have capable adult level language skills so they are able to clearly explain their challenges related to communication. Our students often can’t do that.
We need to do a lot observing. Sometimes the REAL causes of what we observe are below the surface.