This article has been jointly written by a group of Autistic adults between April 2024 and October 2024
DISCLAIMER:
Although we are drawing from our own lived experiences and perspectives, we must stress that we are not trained mental health professionals and that this glossary should not be used as a diagnostic tool in place of consulting with licensed mental health professionals.
We aim to share what we know from a neuro-affirmative stance to provide general information. This may not be applicable to your personal circumstances. If you wish to speak to anyone about your situation, please seek out your GP or local mental health team for support and advice. These definitions have been rewritten and agreed by a panel of autistic individuals. We are not liable for any damages or actions taken by any individual as a result of this glossary and its contents.
A diagnosis given to someone with neural hyperconnectivity, Monotropism, holotropic sensory gating, a neuroceptive need for novelty and variety, an interest-driven dopamine system, and varying processing styles (both bottom-up and Top-Down Processing). Although ADD (Attention-Deficit Disorder) is not as common a diagnosis anymore, some make a distinction based on how it does not include symptoms of impulsivity.
The term given to experiencing a difficulty in recognising or describing one’s own emotions. This is the emotional equivalent of Interoception.
A Neurodivergent condition where interferences in the brain result in a person not being able to move their body as desired. The failed movement further affects brain-muscle coordination. The biggest reason for body apraxia in autistic individuals is due to sensory differences. Therapies are often used to correct brain-muscle coordination. Due to the presence of apraxia in some non-verbal autistic people, they are often assumed to have low receptive language skills, even if they actually understand language incredibly well.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is a condition where someone avoids eating certain foods, types of food or having restricted intake of food. This isn’t caused by a negative self-image or a desire to change your body weight as is the case with body dysmorphia. Follow the link here for more information: ARFID – Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk)
Autistic Spectrum Condition and Autistic Spectrum Disorder are both diagnostic terms used for autistic individuals. Neurodivergent people prefer to distance themselves from the word ‘disorder’ as it implies that being autistic is a negative quality, which we do not believe being autistic is a negative with. Some autistic individuals may use ASD as this was the term used when they were diagnosed.
A previous diagnosis that was given to autistic individuals and the unofficial term used in place of ‘autistic’. Asperger’s Syndrome has not been used as a diagnostic term since 2013, as it was removed when DSM-V was introduced. Older autistic people may use these terms based on when they received their diagnosis.
APD affects the ability to understand information that is received through sound and the ear. This condition is often summarised as “a gap between what one hears and what the brain processes”. There are techniques that could aid with this condition such as an ideal room listening situation. For more information, use this link: Auditory Processing Disorder | Equality and Diversity Unit (ox.ac.uk)
The term preferred by most autistic people, and recommended by both the NHS and the National Autistic Society.
Is an informal diagnosis that refers to someone having both ASC and ADHD. Reports of co-occurrence suggest that those with ADHD and those who are autistic share overlapping symptoms. Other research has suggested a neurobiological link which involves executive functioning in the brain. The co-occurrence is becoming more well-known due to its use on the internet and within the neurodivergent community.
Burnout is a state of complete mental, physical and emotional exhaustion due to chronic life stress. Burnout happens when the demands or expectations of a person’s life outweigh their capacity to manage, and when there is insufficient time or support to process or recover from these stressors.
This is a difficulty with control of movement where autistic people struggle to get started, stop, or switch between tasks. This encompasses a lot of experiences such as: not getting a drink as there are no clean glasses, wetting oneself after sitting in the same spot, procrastinating over chores and tasks etc. Some autistic people say that inertia is a big problem in their life. It means that they don’t always do what they want to do. It can mean that they let people down. It can mean that they need lots of help to get things done.
A form of thinking that begins with the details from the environment to form perceptions and understanding. This thinking involves little to no prior knowledge or expectation about an incoming sensory input. For example, when you hear a sound, bottom-up processing would involve identifying it as music before recognizing the specific song. See also: top-down processing.
The actions that a person takes to relax after a period of stress, pressure, or activity. How this happens is unique to each individual and can involve Stimming behaviours or specific sensory input to help calm the mind e.g., music or holding a pillow. Autistic people are continually processing more and are often navigating environments which are not suited to their neurology and as a result are often using more ‘mental energy’ than others.
Demand Avoidance is used to mean the characteristic of a persistent and marked resistance to ‘the demands of everyday life’, which may include essential demands such as eating and sleeping as well as expected demands such as going to school or work. Click the link to the national autism society for more details.
This condition is commonly known, from those with lived experience to its visibility in media such as movies and literature. However, as a type of neurodivergence, it has been described as a chronic feeling of sadness for an extended period, usually for no apparent reason. Though it could be debilitating, there are individuals who have used a range of strategies to work their way out of and through their depressive episodes.
A neurodivergent condition which impairs an individual’s learning, understanding and use of language. Research says that DLD has a genetic and biological basis. Those with DLD may reach their spoken language milestones later than their peers.
You’re considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. See the link below for guidance on autism and disability: autismunderstood.co.uk
A neurodivergent condition where a person is born with an extra chromosome. This affects how their brain and body develop. Every person with Down’s syndrome is different and unique, with their own set of strengths and challenges. There are 3 types of Down’s syndrome that could be listed. Some physical ailments are also associated with this condition e.g., heart ailments and hearing problems.
The acquired difficulty in understanding numbers, performing mathematical calculations, and applying number concepts. Despite this difficulty, it is not related to general levels of intellectual functioning.
A neurodivergent condition which expresses itself through an impairment in written expression. It is characterised by significant and persistent difficulties in acquiring skills related to writing, such as spelling accuracy, grammar and punctuation accuracy, and organising ideas into coherent text.
A neurodivergent condition which is characterised by significant and persistent difficulties in learning skills related to reading, such as word-reading accuracy and reading fluency.
Also known developmental coordination disorder (DCD), this neurodivergent condition presents itself through an individual experiencing problems with their motor skills coordination. People with this condition can face problems regarding their balance, quick movements, and learning other movements associated with activity.
The involuntary repetition of words or phrases that someone else says.
A previous term to describe some autistic people who can speak, read, write, and handle basic life skills as well as Neurotypical people can. The term has been applied to those with any neurodevelopmental condition who can often perform at a high level in the workplace, depending on the context they are expected to work in. This is not an official medical term or diagnosis. Due to the perception that ‘high-functioning’ is comparable to ‘not very autistic’, this term risks the support needs of some autistic individuals going unseen.
This term describes the mental process of taking in a sensory environment from our surroundings and filtering out what is not beneficial. This has been described as a way to participate in the world by hyper-focusing attention on one sensory or cognitive path and through synthesising the experience into coherence without becoming overwhelmed. Follow this link to learn more: Holotropism: a multi-dimensional, spacious, edgeless terrain | by Hendl H Mirra | Medium.
A condition where people experience the sounds of everyday life as intrusively loud, uncomfortable or even painful.
The name given to specific Savantism in a child’s ability to read at a surprisingly early age. Usually falling under the category of autism, someone who is hyperlexic also usually has difficulties in communication or speaking skills.. As one grows older, the person can mitigate the symptoms and effects through applying various techniques and the skill of reading itself. A study estimates that hyperlexia may affect around 5-10% of the autistic population. However, this statistic is not country-specific.
An unusually high or intense response to a particular form of sensory information e.g., smell, texture, or colour (stimulus).
An unusually low response to a particular form of sensory information e.g., light, pain, or sound.
The ability to perceive the physical state of one’s own body. This includes sensations that help us understand whether we are hot, cold, hungry, or tired. In particular, this can affect our perception of pain. See also: alexithymia
A condition that involves difficulties with visual perception. This is caused by the way in which the brain interprets the visual information being sent through the eyes. For more information on this condition, use this link: Irlen Syndrome | Equality and Diversity Unit (ox.ac.uk)
A reduced ability for a specific form of learning e.g., dyslexia and reading. Learning difficulties encompass a broader range of conditions than learning disabilities, including ASC, Tourette Syndrome, and ADHD.
A life-long, reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities such as reading, cooking, or communicating. People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.
This is the term given to loops of rumination and uncertainty, or anxiety and worry, which can be really unbearable. This can be more intense and distressing to autistic people. This is also called perseveration.
The act of hiding autistic behaviours to blend in with neurotypical people and places. There are two types of masking:
- Intending to hide parts of oneself to fit in. This is not limited to autistic behaviours, but also with things such as interests.
- The “survival response”, masking/ fawning, which is an automatic response you aren’t in control of – similar to the fight/ flight/ freeze response, you also have the fawn response.
The medical model or clinical model views disability as something to be cured or corrected. The Social model of disability says that disability is caused by the way society is organised. The medical model of disability says people are disabled by their impairments or differences.
Under the medical model, these impairments or differences should be ‘fixed’ or changed by medical and other treatments, even when the impairment or difference does not cause pain or illness. The medical model looks at what is ‘wrong’ with the person and not what the person needs. It creates low expectations and leads to people losing independence, choice and control in their own lives. See also: social model.
A possible outcome when an autistic person goes through high levels of anxiety or stress. It looks like a fight or flight response and can often be misinterpreted as ‘tantrums’ or aggressive panic attacks.
Monotropism is a processing style, or way of thinking. Monotropic people tend to focus strongly on a small number of things at a time, and miss things outside of their attention tunnel — or quickly forget things they are no longer focusing on. Autistic people and ADHDers are more likely to be monotropic than others. They might experience some things intensely, and often find it hard to shift their attention from one thing to another. This can result in passionate interests that some people might find unusual.
A relatively new approach in clinical, educational and working environments that aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment for neurodivergent people. It is based on highlighting strengths, supporting needs and respecting differences, rather than the language of defects and using the prefix ‘dis’.
Neurodivergent, sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.”
Neurodivergent is quite a broad term. Neurodivergence (the state of being neurodivergent) can be largely or entirely genetic and innate, or it can be largely or entirely produced by brain-altering experience, or some combination of the two.
Neurodivergent is quite a broad term. Neurodivergence (the state of being neurodivergent) can be largely or entirely genetic and innate, or it can be largely or entirely produced by brain-altering experience, or some combination of the two.
A population of neurodivergent people who share a similar form of neurodivergence. Examples of neurotype groups include autistic people and dyslexic people.
Refers to people who have brains that function in a similar way to most of their peers. Individuals who are neurotypical develop skills, such as social or organizational skills, at around the same rate as others their age.
Communication through means other than words or vocal noises. This can include facial expressions, body posture, gesture and body movement.
A condition where an individual becomes overly preoccupied with these intrusive thoughts and attaches meaning to them , these thoughts are usually distressing/anxiety provoking and ‘compulsions’ are actions that are taken to try and reduce anxiety. These compulsions (e.g. listing, repeating set phrases, counting) can be both internal or external. These obsessions and compulsions consume a lot of a person’s significant time and energy. They can disrupt a person’s social and personal life. Symptoms vary based on specific obsessive thoughts, such as fear of contamination or the need for order. Rituals such as repeatedly washing hands and arranging things in a specific pattern are performed to alleviate anxious feelings.
Overstimulation that is triggered by sensory input, anxiety or stress. This is where an autistic person’s brain is getting more information than it can process from their senses. Overload can lead to a fight or flight (meltdown), freeze (Shutdown) or fawn response (people-pleasing). Sensory overload is a reality many Autistic and ADHD people intimately understand. Many ADHers and Autistic people have a different way of processing sensory input from neurotypicals. Many of us have a heightened experience of certain types of sensory input.
Changes to working conditions that accommodate someone’s neurodiversity. This can include specifying certain equipment be used, limiting duties or reducing hours of work with the goal of enabling neurodivergent people to function in a workplace environment. This was outlined in the Equality Act 2010 which legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations.
A skill where individuals possess exceptional skills or talents (savants), usually in the areas of music, mathematics, drawing or calendrical calculations. Research has shown that around 50% of people who experience savant syndrome are autistic.
A possible outcome when an autistic person goes through high levels of anxiety or stress. It looks like a ‘freeze’ response and can be misinterpreted as disinterest or ‘the silent treatment’, when it is a stress response.
The social model says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. The social model of disability seeks to challenge power imbalances within society between differently-abled people and seeks to redefine what disability means as a diverse expression of human life. See also: medical model.
Repetitive actions an autistic person does. These can be used to show excitement, deal with sensory overload, or manage strong emotions like anxiety and fear. It can also be a form of self-regulation, and of keeping ourselves calm and grounded.
A mysterious neurodivergence where one experiences a sensation using other senses. Some examples are the ability to smell music, hear colour, hearing a word and tasting it at the same time or seeing abstract shapes.
A form of thinking that’s idea driven and uses models or expectations to interpret the environment along with information from past experiences to understand and interpret new sensory information. For instance, if you expect to hear a specific announcement when waiting at an airport, you are more likely to interpret overheard announcements as being that expected message, even if they are somewhat unclear. See also: bottom-up processing.
A chronic tic disorder which is characterised by the presence of both chronic motor tics and vocal (phonic) tics. Tics (whether motor/vocal, major/minor) are defined as uncontrollable, sudden, rapid, non-rhythmic and recurrent movements/vocalisations.
Trauma is when we experience stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control, which then has an ongoing impact on our life. It could be one incident, or an ongoing event that happens over a long period of time. Most of us will experience an event in our lives that could be considered traumatic. When it comes to trauma, how the person experiences an event is important – one person can be in a life-threatening/truly dangerous event and not develop a traumatic stress response afterwards, and someone else can have an upsetting (but safe) experience, but their brain perceives it as threatening, and this results in an ongoing emotional impact. Trauma can have a serious negative impact on someone’s life, particularly with their fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses.