How might children with FASD exhibit challenges in conversation?

Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) may encounter significant challenges in social interactions and conversations, particularly in terms of understanding and considering the perspectives of others. This difficulty in perspective-taking can manifest in various ways, such as struggling to understand social cues, empathize, or recognize the thoughts and feelings of conversation partners. As a result, they may miss vital contextual information that is necessary for healthy conversational exchanges, leading to interruptions, misunderstandings, or inappropriate responses.

In conversations, perspective-taking is crucial as it allows individuals to gauge how their words may affect others and to adjust their communication style accordingly. Children with FASD may exhibit an egocentric viewpoint where their responses are primarily based on their own thoughts and experiences, rather than recognizing that others may hold different viewpoints or emotional reactions. This can strain their interactions and hinder the development of meaningful relationships, as effective communication relies heavily on mutual understanding and the ability to share a conversational space with others.