Table 2.

Themes, subordinate themes and tertiary themes emerging from interview data with autistic children regarding their language and communication difficulties.

1. Perceptions of language/communication ability	1.1 Vocabulary	1.1.i. Pride in extended vocabulary 1.1.ii. Word-finding difficulties (and emotional impact a ) 1.1.iii. Strategies for word-finding difficulties
	1.2 Listening and comprehension	1.2.i. Barriers to listening/comprehension 1.2.ii. Impact of listening difficulties (emotional a and functional) 1.2.iii. Strategies for improving listening
	1.3 Dialogue	1.3.i. Motivation for conversation 1.3.ii. Difficulties with group conversation (and emotional impact a ) 1.3.iii. Facilitators for conversation
2. Difficulties with self-advocating	2.1 Narrating events	2.1.i. Accuracy 2.1.ii. Giving the right amount of detail 2.1iii. Emotional responses to explaining an event a
	2.2 Explaining thoughts and ideas	2.2.i. Difficulties explaining thoughts and ideas 2.2.ii. Emotional responses to explaining thoughts and ideas a b 2.2.iii. Strategies for explaining thoughts and ideas
	2.3 Explaining emotions b	2.3.i. Difficulties explain emotions 2.3.ii. Emotional responses to explaining emotions a 2.3.iii. Strategies for explaining/managing emotions
3. Impact of language/communication difficulties on social relationships	3.1 Creating new relationships	3.1.i Desire to make friendships b 3.1.ii Difficulties initiating conversation 3.1.iii Pressure and stress when creating relationships a
	3.2 Barriers to maintaining relationships	3.2.i Difficulties with social communication 3.2.ii Changing relationship dynamics 3.2.iii Dating b
	3.3 Facilitators for creating and maintaining relationships	3.3.i Divergence as an identity b 3.3.ii Opportunities for building relationships b 3.3.iii Personal characteristics b
4. Communication and literacy interaction	4.1 Creative writing	4.1.i Pride in writing 4.1.ii Writing and social-emotional development b 4.1.iii Physical difficulties with writing (including strategies)
	4.2 Reading	4.2.i Enjoyment in reading 4.2.ii Reading and social-emotional development b
	4.3 Strategies	4.3.i Strategies using literacy to support social-emotional development

Overarching themes reported in results (where indicated): ^arelationship between emotions and language/communication difficulties and ^bsex/gender difference.