The presence of multiple diagnoses can make it challenging for individuals to communicate what is going on in their bodies and assign where they think the cause is coming from. Being able to follow a sequenced thought or identify the pathway of what caused something can be challenging due to difficulties understanding how parts relate to the whole context of what is happening versus an individual cue from internally within their body. Kids and adults may have words to label body parts and may be able to non-verbally communicate pain. But have significant difficulty communicating levels of pain and its specific location and type. Separating out what is hunger pain versus digestive bowel difficulties is important when individuals can stuff food repeatedly and consume high quantities of foods or specific types of foods over the course of the day.
Coordination can make a difference with simple things like being able to blow your nose to clean out your sinuses or to produce an effective cough to clear your chest. Body temperature issues such as feeling sick can be difficult to communicate when the individual is unable to remove items of clothing themselves to show that they are feeling or getting hot. It is common for individuals to have difficulty transitioning between seasonal clothing. Presence of allergies and skin irritations can make wearing certain types of clothes or materials difficult to cope with yet how is this communicated? Does the individual have the words to describe in detail the sequencing of their symptoms.