How do autism communication challenges affect understanding of abstract language and sarcasm?

PostedDecember 3, 2025

UpdatedDecember 3, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Beatrice Holloway, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Many individuals experience difficulties with autism and abstract language, particularly when interpreting what others mean beyond the literal words they say. This makes everyday conversations challenging, especially when humour, idioms, or tone come into play. For someone navigating autism and abstract language, comments like “break a leg” or “that’s just great” said sarcastically can feel confusing, even misleading.

This is because abstract and non-literal speech requires a person to read between the lines, something that often clashes with the way many autistic individuals process information. Sarcasm, for instance, relies heavily on vocal tone, facial expressions, and context, while figurative language demands an intuitive leap away from literal meaning. These are areas often impacted by communication challenges, which can lead to misunderstandings in school, at work, or within friendships. But it’s important to note that with the right support, autistic people can learn to decode these cues over time, often developing creative and insightful ways of interpreting the world.

How It Often Presents

Here are some common signs that someone may be struggling with abstract language:

Literal Interpretations

Phrases like “spill the beans” might be taken as a real action, not an idiom, leading to confusion or miscommunication.

Misreading Humour

A sarcastic joke might be believed or taken seriously, which can cause emotional distress or embarrassment.

Difficulty with Context

Without a clear tone or body language, a comment’s real meaning might be misread or missed entirely.

Understanding these patterns helps foster more patience and clear communication.

Visit providers like Autism Detect for personal consultations tailored to language support.

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to Communication Challenges.

Beatrice Holloway, MSc

Author

Beatrice Holloway is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She specialises in CBT, psychological testing, and applied behaviour therapy, working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, and learning disabilities, as well as adults with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, and substance use disorders. Holloway creates personalised treatment plans to support emotional regulation, social skills, and academic progress in children, and delivers evidence-based therapy to improve mental health and well-being across all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.