Autistic Lifehack: Hearing Problems

cheshiretiffy:

laughingmyaspergersoff:

laughingmyaspergersoff:

If someone says something that you only partially understand:

DON’T ask for clarification with a generic “What?” or “I’m sorry?” (In my experience, people will repeat the phrase the exact same way without helping you to understand).

Example:
Them: “Hey, do you like pahganabasa?”
Autistic Person: “What?”
Them: “Do you like pahganabasa?”
Autistic Person: “I’m sorry, what?”
Them (annoyed): “Do you like pahganabasa?”

Instead, DO repeat the part that you did understand, and substitute a “What?” for the unintelligable part.

Example:
Them: “Hey, do you like pahganabasa?”
Autistic Person: “Do I like what?”
Them: “Pineapple pizza?”
Autistic Person: (Understands the words!)

Fun fact: I wrote this well before I discovered that there is a pineapple pizza meme here on the tumbleblogs.com

I do this with my son who’s speech delayed.

If you just go “What??” he’s unsure whether you’re mocking him (thanks, asshole dad), or didn’t hear him and clams up.

Instead of:

Son:  I see a sfhwuhsdafuidghdasjk.
Adult:  What???
Son:  *stops talking*
Adult:  What??!?!
Son:  *nope*
Adult:  WHAT DID YOU SAY?!??!!!?!?!?
Son:  *tantrum*

this:

Son:  I see a sfhwuhsdafuidghdasjk.

Me:  You see a what? I didn’t hear that part.
Son:  I see a spideroverthere.
Me:  *think about it for a moment* You see a spider over there?
Son:  Yes.
Me:  Ok, don’t touch it.
Son:  …. Ok.

So, yeah, it works both ways.