Connecting interoception research to social communication

What is it about?

This article explores how being aware of our internal body signals (called interoceptive awareness or IA) may affect our ability to understand and communicate emotions and thoughts with others, as well as take actions to meet our needs (self-regulate). We review various studies to explain how IA, emotional awareness, and self-regulation are connected and why these connections are important for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). Key points discussed include: 1. Understanding Emotions: IA helps us understand and manage our emotions, which is important for effective communication. 2. Self-Regulation: IA influences our ability to control our emotions and behaviors, which is crucial for social interactions. 3. Social Cognition: IA enhances our ability to understand what others are thinking and feeling, improving our empathy and perspective-taking skills. SLPs usually address social communication skills in therapy by helping clients understand others' emotions and thoughts using external cues like facial expressions and tone of voice. However, we suggest that understanding our internal body signals might be even more important. Traditional intervention methods addressing social communication (Theory of Mind approaches) may miss out on this aspect, which can be crucial, especially for neurodiverse individuals. SLPs may find it helpful to consider IA when assessing and planning intervention for individuals with social communication support needs. This means looking at how well someone can conceptualize and describe their unique internal body sensations, connect those sensations with physical feelings and emotions, and problem solve to meet their needs. This information may help SLPs to better tailor social communication intervention. We also discuss ways SLPs might consider interoception communication during assessment, such as using specific questionnaires to describe IA in children and adolescents.

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Photo by Domingo Alvarez E on Unsplash

Photo by Domingo Alvarez E on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article is important because it sheds light on a new way of improving how people understand and communicate physical feelings and emotions, especially for those with social communication challenges. Here’s why it matters: 1. We suggest that being aware of our internal body signals (like heart rate or stomach butterflies) can play a big role in how we understand and manage our emotions and consider the perspective of others. This could be a game-changer for SLPs who help people with social communication support needs. 2. We highlight that traditional intervention methods, which focus on external cues like facial expressions and tone of voice, might not be enough, especially for autistic individuals. Understanding internal body signals might help bridge the empathy gap between autistic and non-autistic people. 3. We suggest that by incorporating communication for body awareness into assessments and intervention, SLPs can develop more effective and personalized strategies. This could lead to better social communication outcomes, increased independence with self-regulation, and improving overall communication. 4. We advocate for neurodiversity-affirming approaches, recognizing that different people have different ways of experiencing and expressing emotions. This perspective helps create more inclusive and effective therapy methods. In summary, we propose a more comprehensive way to assess and plan social communication intervention, which may significantly benefit those with social communication support needs.

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