Have you ever watched an autistic child in distress and wondered why they “refuse” to use their words? Why, in moments of frustration, anxiety, or sensory overload, they suddenly stop responding verbally and instead engage in actions like running away, covering their ears, or shutting down?
It’s not defiance. It’s not a lack of understanding. It’s science.
The brain can’t be in two places at once. When an autistic person is experiencing strong emotions, the language center of the brain is no longer fully accessible. Instead, their communication shifts—often to movement, gestures, or behaviors that express their needs in ways we might not recognize.
So What Does This Mean for Parents, Educators, and Therapists?
It means we need to stop viewing behavior as something to correct and start seeing it as communication.
So, How Can We Support Communication Instead of Shutting It Down?
🤔 What if we paused to ask ourselves—what message are they trying to send?
🤔 Could there be a way to help them express themselves that doesn’t rely on words?
🤔 How can we support regulation first, so that communication can follow?
Want to Learn More?
In our latest video, Susan Golubock, an autistic retired occupational therapist, explains exactly what happens in the autistic brain under stress—and how we can shift our view to truly support communication instead of misinterpreting it as misbehavior.
If you’ve ever struggled to understand why an autistic individual reacts in ways that seem “unexpected,” this video will change how you see behavior—and transform how you connect.
🎥 Watch Now:
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