Exploring Nonverbal Communication In Children With Autism Through "Young Sheldon" And "The Big Bang Theory"

The main topic of this study will be the challenges that children affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face throughout their lives, specifically regarding nonverbal communication, which includes facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, and body language, and plays a crucial role in day-to-day social interactions. However, for neurotypical individuals, these might often be intuitive and automatic, whereas for children with autism, interpreting and using nonverbal signals can be significantly more difficult, which may lead to misunderstandings, social exclusion, and difficulty forming peer relationships. In the first section, there is an outline of nonverbal communication and its role in life and a general overview of autism. Following, there will be a focus on how these two aspects of life are related to each other and how ASD can affect the social aspects of children. This will lead to an analysis of different methods for interacting with these children. The last section will consider the TV representation of autism, looking at the case of Sheldon Cooper. This example is useful to demonstrate how autistic characteristics and challenges are portrayed in popular media and to reflect on the impact, both positive and negative, that it could have on the public. This will lead to the conclusion that children with autism have to face unique barriers concerning nonverbal communication often underestimated or misunderstood by society. Consequently, by increasing awareness and developing more inclusive communication strategies, we will be one step closer to understanding and social integration.