Abstract

Nonverbal communication (NVC) refers to all communicative acts except speech that convey messages through signals. Humans perceive and express emotional information through nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, proximity, body language and movement, gestures, eye contact, and haptics. NVC can be just as if not more informative than verbal language as long as the observer is aware of the communication’s meaningful cues. Recognizing the varying nonverbal communicative abilities of a neurologically diverse population allows for more significant interpersonal communication. Despite the different trends of NVC comprehension for populations with varying levels of neurological ability, these paralinguistic cues prove to be extremely significant for gaining communicative information. Namely, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), hearing loss/deafness, and right hemisphere brain damage (RHD) from stroke impact one’s ability to effectively receive and express information through nonverbal communication. Considering the various ways NVC is used across neurologically diverse populations is vital for gaining insight on a person in a variety of positions, both personal and professional. Service providers, educators, and caretakers must recognize trends in NVC in order to effectively send and receive information to neurologically diverse populations.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 5-5-2024

Mentor

Dr. Jade H. Robinson

Mentor Department Affiliation

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

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