I actually used my AAC in public today for the first time. I know this might not sound like much to some people, but when I have speaking issues and end up nonverbal or having a verbal communication issue (I don’t know what to call it without people getting mad at me) I normally just stop talking all together and isolate myself. This AAC really helped me so much today and I don’t feel so drained physically and mentally from work. I’m really happy so now I don’t have to go home and sleep the rest of my afternoon away, I can play a game or read!!
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Also, I don’t know what you’d call it that I have. I was nonverbal for well over 7 years and have on and off verbal issues where I can talk some days but most days I’m completely silent. Recently I’m having an episode that’s seeming to last about 4 days.
I want to start being able to use my AAC apps in public without feeling overly anxious about doing so
If there are any AAC users (I’m talking specifically devices, but any is fine) full time users or part time who have suggestions for how to help with that anxiety it would be much appreciated
I feel like using (I’m not sure if I worded that right) AAC especially in public will greatly benefit me, but the thought of doing so kind of terrifies me
there don't seem to be many people talking about it even here - does anyone else experience selective/situational mutism? are people just tending to wrap it up with autistic speech difficulty/loss, ""going nonverbal"" etc?
I've really been struggling with communication at uni. this has been a bottleneck in my functionality my whole life but I kind of assumed when I was younger that I would have somehow got over it by now.
it doesn't feel entirely accurate to call myself semiverbal/speaking because in many situations I CAN communicate verbally and my brain generally is very compatible with language. but sometimes that just doesn't matter and I'm just frozen staring like a deer in headlights. it even happens with my husband. it's really scary and feels like I'm behind a wall observing the world but unable to interact with it
I'm realizing I need better strategies for working with this, but I don't know what to do or what will help. I don't have friends or family who deal with it
just because a person cannot speak
doesnt mean they dont understand or have nothing to say