I'm adjacent to the autism spectrum, so some of these might seem overly explicit or like a "technical manual on how to communicate", just FYI.
"It's good to over-communicate and under-assume." -said by one of my couple's therapists. (that is, one should err on the side of communicating slightly too much, and assuming slightly too little)
It's good to find out if the other person is 1) wanting to build intimacy or just share, 2) seeking support or acknowledgement, or 3) seeking advice or problem solving.