Understanding Autism: Difficulty in Social Situations

While it’s important to stress that no two people with autism experience the condition in the same way, some symptoms are more common than others. For example, many children with autism and related disorders find difficulty in social situations.

What are ‘social situations’?

The social situation is a term that can describe a broad range of events we encounter daily. For children, social situations include everything from going to school to spending time with their siblings. In short, it refers to any situation where others surround us.

Why do children with autism and related disorders tend to struggle in social situations?

Children with autism and related disorders may struggle in social situations because they tend to experience the world differently than their neurotypical peers. As such, they may not know how to accurately respond to specific social cues that other children seem to understand from an early age.

Because of this, it is a common misconception that people with autism are not sociable — whereas this is simply not the case. It may just be that certain adjustments need to be made in these situations for your child to feel more comfortable — and making these accommodations can enable them to better communicate with those around them and make new friends.

How can I help my child cope better socially?

Fortunately, there are many ways in which you can make it easier for your child to thrive in social situations they may otherwise feel uncomfortable. This is an important duty to handle, especially when you consider the fact that nearly 1 in 3 people with autism are socially isolated.

For example, interventive therapies, such as occupational therapy or speech therapy, can help your child develop socially by improving their communication and self-expression skills. As a result, they’re more adept when it comes to navigating social situations and talking to others.

Reading social stories can also help your child to better understand social situations ahead of time — especially those that may be overwhelming, such as going to visit the doctor or dentist. By developing their understanding of unfamiliar events ahead of time, they can adequately prepare themselves for what is to come, as opposed to being overwhelmed.

Encouraging your child to participate in a wide range of extracurricular hobbies, especially team-based activities, can also help them to socialize with others, especially those who are their age. This often comes down to the fact that it encourages them to spend more time playing or interacting with others than doing so on their own. Furthermore, it provides them with a common point of interest to bring into discussion with their peers. As such, you may notice that it is particularly beneficial if their hobby relates to their special interest, should they have one.

However, while you must encourage your child to socialize and make friends as much as possible, you must also remember that we all need a break from time to time to recharge our social batteries!