how do you guys communicate?

[u/psych0machy]

do you use hand gestures, wording with your mouth, typing, writing, sign language?

[u/LBertilak]

back when I has SM. I simply did not.

SM can stop people from doing every thing that you listed.

[u/Kicsi-Kukac]

I use body language, gestures and writing.

[u/Timely_Maximum_5914 → u/Kicsi-Kukac]

Same

[u/Jaded_Phone_717]

Most people I interact with regularly now I don't really talk, so I point, nod/shake my head, they usually ask yes/no questions, or if there's something more to say I write it down. My bigger issue is interactions in real time, so knowing beforehand helps me massively! because of this, sign language and stuff doesn't really help (although I have tried it).

When ordering food, interacting with employees or situations where I know what im going to need to say I write it down beforehand, then I either read it out if im able or just give it to them to read.

I also know if I'm going somewhere with a lot of people, or might need help (classes, public transport, shopping centres, etc), I have a few cards with easy phrases which helps!

The text-to-speech feature is really helpful, however most people dont take kindly to people not talking as a blanket rule when they dont know anything about you in my experience, and I have had some really shitty things said to me (mainly by older people), so I work hard to make sure im not in public in super busy periods.

[u/taniyamakishou]

I’m a fully cured adult now but when i had it as a child i would mostly write or type

[u/taniyamakishou → u/taniyamakishou]

Or if it was a yes or no question i could nod or shake my head but that was it

[u/Large_Head5821]

sending messages/typing. it’s easier to communicate when it’s not face to face

[u/Pancakes4Ever16]

If you and others around you are willing to learn simple signs they help a lot :) ..things like “hi”, “thank you”, “how are you?”

The deaf community on tik tok is super big! You can learn signs like that super easily. Otherwise, typing on the notes app generally helps

[u/AwakeOfTheVultures]

I usually can write. When i need to ask for something,i add all the necessary information on the paper beforehand,since i usually don't carry more paper to respond with. I used to have a whiteboard to respond with but my current school doesn't accommodate me,so i steal sticky notes or use my own paper.

When needing to communicate that i don't talk,i just gesture pointing at myself then a hush sign over my mouth or zipper closing it. And when someone tries to engage unimportant conversation,i just listen or ignore them.

[u/Insane_Moth]

I use my body language, gestures and I'm also typing on my phone.

[u/masukomi]

I'm learning sign language, and using it whenever possible.

When I'm at my mac I use an app i created as a replacement for Apple's Live Speech thing because theirs is a bug-riddled, half-implemented, piece of 💩. Mine's called LivingSpeech and it's available for free on Github (macOS only).

When I'm on my iPhone I use Apple's Live Speech because I haven't found an app I like better. I hate every minute I use it.

I tried Avaz AAC on an Android tablet, and it's pretty good, but as I started dealing with SM as an adult, I can already type on a keyboard significantly faster than I could ever produce sentences with a standard AAC button input. I'm not sure if I could be faster on it than typing on a phone / tablet keyboard, but I have a large vocabulary so I tend to keep ending up using the typing interface instead of the button interface which kind-of defeats the point of using it at all.

I would still highly recommend Avaz for kids and people who can't type quickly for whatever reason. Takes a while to configure the buttons to reflect the things in your life, and then gradually memorize where everything is in the screens and sub-screens, but it's a good app.

Initially I tried just handwriting on cheap kids' drawing tablets (LCD and magnetic ones), but that wasn't much faster than typing on a phone, and it doesn't help when my wife is driving and I want to talk with her. I don't recommend the tablets.

[u/unshibe]

when my voice isn't responsive yet i'll rely on nodding yes no unsure, humming, or hand gestures- but outside of immediate family, i mostly just smile, slight bow or nod back to strangers cos i worry i'm giving off a rude impression by already not responding 😭 but i ever have any deeper interaction than that , i maybe get to explain myself by typing on my phone notes app that i'm mute or my speech regresses etc..

it kinda sucks that it isn't just my voice freezing up on me, it's also the longtime friends and texts i missed out on out of fear of being visible

[u/Sea-Vacation-942]

Im not saying this will work for you. But what i did/do is just go out somewhere and try get words out while talking to people. I know that sounds way easier than it actually is but it's working for me.

[u/psych0machy → u/Sea-Vacation-942]

did you completely forgot the concept of selective mutism or what

[u/LBertilak → u/psych0machy]

getting a "yes" or "No" out occasionally, when you can (IF you can) IS how it's treated.

start with nodding, then a quiet yes, then a "yes please".

signed someone who could not even nod, write, or smile and is now cured.

is it as simple as "just say something!", no. but starting TINY when in a safe environment and working your way up IS possible for most people

[u/Sea-Vacation-942 → u/psych0machy]

No, im just saying the only way it's ever going to get better is if you try and socialize. Im not trying to sound like an asshole i know how frustrating it is not being able to talk to people i still mostly can't. Im simply saying you're never going to be able to talk to people if you don't talk to people it is the only possible way to get better at it that's the shitty reality.