For many people, answering the phone is just a simple, everyday task—something done without much thought. For autistic individuals, however, the experience of answering a phone call can be overwhelming, stressful, and even anxiety-inducing. This is where targeted interventions can make a significant difference, helping to build confidence and develop essential communication skills.
The challenges associated with phone conversations can stem from sensory sensitivities, difficulties with social communication, struggles with unpredictability, and executive functioning issues.
While some autistic individuals may find ways to manage phone calls over time, many continue to find them challenging throughout their lives.
Why Phone Calls Feel Difficult for Autistic Individuals
Unlike face-to-face interactions or even text-based communication, phone calls remove many of the elements that can make social interactions more manageable for autistic individuals. There are several key reasons why answering the phone can be particularly difficult. These are as follows:
Lack of Nonverbal Cues
One of the biggest challenges with phone conversations is the absence of facial expressions, body language, and lip reading.
Many autistic individuals rely on these nonverbal cues to help them understand what someone is saying and to determine the emotional tone of a conversation. Without these visual indicators, it can be much harder to interpret the speaker’s meaning, which can lead to misunderstandings or feelings of confusion.
Sensory Sensitivities and Auditory Processing Issues
For some autistic individuals, phone calls can be overwhelming due to sensory sensitivities. The sudden ringing of the phone can feel intrusive or startling, and the sound of someone’s voice through a phone speaker might be difficult to process.
Many autistic individuals experience auditory processing differences, which can make it challenging to distinguish words, especially if there is background noise or if the speaker talks quickly.
Unlike in-person conversations, where someone can ask for clarification using nonverbal signals, phone conversations require constant verbal exchanges, making it harder to keep up.
Social Communication Difficulties
Phone calls often demand quick responses and social intuition, which can be challenging for autistic individuals who struggle with conversational timing, small talk, or interpreting tone of voice.
A phone call lacks the natural pauses of in-person interactions, and there is little time to process what has been said before responding.
Additionally, the pressure to follow social norms can be stressful. Some autistic individuals may struggle with knowing how to exit a conversation without feeling rude or awkward.
Unpredictability and Anxiety
A phone call is often unpredictable. When the phone rings, the person answering usually doesn’t know who is calling, what the call is about, or how long the conversation will last.
This unpredictability can create anxiety, as some autistic individuals prefer structure and predictability in their interactions.
Even when expecting a phone call, there can still be uncertainty about what will be said. Unlike written communication, where there is time to think through responses carefully, phone calls require immediate answers, which can feel overwhelming.
Executive Functioning Challenges
Executive functioning skills, which involve organizing thoughts, processing information, and managing tasks, can play a role in phone call difficulties. Many autistic individuals need extra time to plan their responses, and phone conversations don’t always allow for that.
Remembering details during a conversation, switching topics smoothly, or keeping track of important points can also be difficult. If multiple topics are being discussed or if the conversation moves quickly, it may be hard to process everything in real time.
Negative Past Experiences
Some autistic individuals develop a strong dislike for phone calls due to past negative experiences. If a phone call has previously led to stress, confusion, or sensory overload, that memory may make answering future calls even more difficult.
Over time, this can lead to avoidance of phone conversations altogether.
Alternative Communication Methods
Many autistic individuals prefer written communication over phone calls because it allows more time to process information and craft responses. Texting, emails, and chat-based customer support are often more comfortable alternatives.
For situations where a phone call is unavoidable, some strategies can make the experience less stressful, such as:
Is Avoiding Phone Calls a Problem?
Some autistic individuals feel pressured to “overcome” their difficulties with phone calls, but avoiding them isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If a person finds alternative ways to communicate effectively, there may be little need to push for phone conversations unless they are absolutely necessary.
However, in situations where phone calls are unavoidable, it may be helpful to develop strategies to reduce stress. Finding balance — whether that means setting boundaries around phone use, using technology to ease communication, or preparing in advance — can help make phone conversations more manageable.
Conclusion
For autistic individuals, answering the phone can be much more than a simple task. The lack of nonverbal cues, sensory sensitivities, social communication challenges, and unpredictability of phone calls all contribute to the difficulty.
While some autistic individuals find ways to manage phone conversations with practice and preparation, others prefer to avoid them altogether in favor of written communication.
Understanding these challenges is important, both for autistic individuals themselves and for those around them. Friends, family, and employers can support autistic individuals by offering alternative communication methods and respecting their preferences.
Rather than forcing phone calls as the standard mode of communication, embracing text, email, and other written forms of communication can make social and professional interactions more accessible. At Jade ABA Therapy, we understand that every individual communicates differently, and we tailor our ABA therapy to meet those unique needs.
Our autism programs in Maryland are designed to provide compassionate, personalized support that helps individuals thrive in social and professional settings. Contact us today to learn how we can help you or your loved one build confidence and communication skills with expert, research-backed ABA therapy.
Sources:
- https://exceptionalindividuals.com/about-us/blog/why-do-autistic-people-dislike-phone-calls/
- https://www.authenticallyemily.uk/blog/why-phone-calls-can-be-incredibly-difficult-for-autistic-people-and-people-with-anxiety
- https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/leaflets/title/reasonable-adjustments-and-autism-phone-calls/
- https://kirstykendall.com/fear-of-phone-calls-autistic/
