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<blockquote data-quote="Clint_L" data-source="post: 9536709" data-attributes="member: 7035894">High functioning autism used to be called Aspergers syndrome and is typified by average to above average IQ but challenges with reading and responding to social cues that are typical of ASD in general, and often affect communication, as you point out. My point is that you shouldn't assume that the problem with communication is due to a difference in IQ, and it could be read as an unkind assumption. Most people won't appreciate being told that they don't understand you because their vocabulary is too limited or they aren't smart enough.And there's a good chance that it's not true. As I mentioned, my experience with students with high functioning autism who struggle to communicate is that it's more about syntax than vocabulary. They often have a tendency to use very long sentences with a number of subordinate clauses, so that there is almost a stream of consciousness effect, and this can be hard for other people to follow. Word choice (diction) may also be a factor, and quite probably is if the person is extremely well read, as you seem to be. When I am working on writing with them, we usually start by looking at ways to break up longer sentences and emphasize a very direct, subject-predicate-object structure. This poses a risk, however, of the student losing some of the wonderful uniqueness that makes their writing voice their own, and there is a similar risk posed by using ChatGPT. So it becomes a bit of a struggle to balance clearer communication with personal expression.But all I'm really suggesting is don't assume folks aren't smart because they are having trouble understanding you. It's potentially hurtful. Or assume it all you want, but maybe not out loud.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Clint_L, post: 9536709, member: 7035894"] High functioning autism used to be called Aspergers syndrome and is typified by average to above average IQ but challenges with reading and responding to social cues that are typical of ASD in general, and often affect communication, as you point out. My point is that you shouldn't assume that the problem with communication is due to a difference in IQ, and it could be read as an unkind assumption. Most people won't appreciate being told that they don't understand you because their vocabulary is too limited or they aren't smart enough. And there's a good chance that it's not true. As I mentioned, my experience with students with high functioning autism who struggle to communicate is that it's more about syntax than vocabulary. They often have a tendency to use very long sentences with a number of subordinate clauses, so that there is almost a stream of consciousness effect, and this can be hard for other people to follow. Word choice (diction) may also be a factor, and quite probably is if the person is extremely well read, as you seem to be. When I am working on writing with them, we usually start by looking at ways to break up longer sentences and emphasize a very direct, subject-predicate-object structure. This poses a risk, however, of the student losing some of the wonderful uniqueness that makes their writing voice their own, and there is a similar risk posed by using ChatGPT. So it becomes a bit of a struggle to balance clearer communication with personal expression. But all I'm really suggesting is don't assume folks aren't smart because they are having trouble understanding you. It's potentially hurtful. Or assume it all you want, but maybe not out loud. [/QUOTE]

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