Self-Reported and Family Members’ Perceptions of Language Strengths in Autistic Individuals: A Qualitative Study in Finland

Traditionally, language research on Autism has centred on deficits and difficulties, with much of the literature emphasizing what autistic individuals cannot do rather than identifying the full spectrum of their linguistic strengths and diverse communication styles. Despite recent growing awareness, the wide range of linguistic abilities in autistic individuals remains scarcely documented, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of their communicative potential. This study seeks to reframe the narrative by focusing on language and communication strengths among autistic individuals in Finland, including both Finnish- and English-speaking participants, with immigrant background. Data were collected through an anonymous survey completed by two distinct groups: 43 autistic individuals and 47 family members, partners, or friends of autistic individuals, totaling 90 participants. Notably, while previous research in the UK has identified honesty and straightforward communication among autistic people, this is the first study to report similar findings in the Finnish context. By documenting these traits in a new cultural setting, our findings add to cross-cultural research on autistic communication. They suggest that while directness and truthfulness may be common autistic strengths across contexts, their interpretation and social value vary depending on cultural norms—such as Finland’s tendency toward reserved and concise communication compared with societies where casual conversations are more expected. In conclusion, the skills reported map onto areas of language strengths such as multilingualism, written language, grammar and direct communication style, but areas for improvement were also indicated, leading to a holistic view of language in Autism.