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52 %u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2025Elklan Supporting Gestalt Language Processing %u2013 a Total Communication ApproachA child or young person%u2019s emotional responses are linked to interoception. For example, if they feel anxious or excited their body sensations may change. Idioms or sayings are often used to describe some changes e.g. %u2018a lump in the throat%u2019 to describe upset before crying or %u2018butterflies in the tummy%u2019 to describe being nervous. Using non-literal language is very unlikely to help describe such body sensations for autistic children and young people and those with social communication needs. Adults supporting a non-speaking child or young person are advised NOT to use non-literal language when communicating with them*. Using a symbol supported information sheet is more likely to be helpful.*Note: The exception for not using non-literal language are children at GLP Stages 5 and 6 and who have sufficient understanding of spoken language. These young people are likely to benefit from help in understanding the non-literal language that they hear around them.Paper-based resource to help communicate painWhen a non-speaking child or young person is in pain they may point to the area of the body that hurts. A visual of a body to map the site of the pain may help them communicate.