ASD glossary
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Carrd made by an autistic system.
Neurodivergent/ND: Someone who is psychologically and/or neurologically different than society norms. Someone who receives and processes information differently.
Allistic: Someone who isn't on the autistic spectrum. Non-autistic. Can still be neurodivergent.
Neurotypical/NT: Someone who is socially deemed as normal functioning, or "normal" in general.
Masking: Masking refers to the act of pretending to be neurotypical/allistic to be deemed as socially normal. This does not mean the person is neurotypical, and can be really exhausting.
ASD: Autistic spectrum disorder.
Spectrum: Wide range of the autistic experience, it is not gradient.
Autism: A neurodevelopmental disorder or disability caused by differences in the brain that is characterized by deficits in social and communication skills, restricted or repetitive behaviors, specific special interests, and sensory difficulties.
Aspergers: An outdated term used to describe "high functioning" autism. This term is no longer valid/official as a diagnosis, learn why.
Autistic savant: An autistic person who exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field. This term is harmful because it is used to replace "idiot savant". No further explanation should be needed.
The r slur: What is it and why it's bad/why you shouldn't use it. (Along with other slurs).
High and low functioning: High functioning refers an autistic person who is more "normal acting" than what autism is typically perceived as (usually called Aspergers), whilst low functioning refers to someone who is "less capable of functioning in society". These terms are harmful, learn why.
Stimming: Refers to repetitive sensory inputs done to regulate your emotions or express them; such as hand/sleeve flapping, rocking, clapping, singing, etc.
Echolalia: The repetition of words, sounds or phrases you hear or have stuck in your head.
Fidgeting: To move or act restlessly.
Breakdown: A term that describes a period of extreme mental or emotional stress, causes overwhelming feelings.
Meltdown: This is an intense response to overwhelming circumstances—a complete loss of behavioral control. Autistic people often have difficulty expressing when they are feeling overly anxious or overwhelmed, which leads to an involuntary coping mechanism—a meltdown. More information here.
Shutdown: The individual retreats inside to cope with distress and may become nonverbal, withdrawn, or emotionless.
Selective mutism: Extreme anxiety thing where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations; it usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.
Speaking: Someone who has the ability to speak with absolutely no impediment.
Semi/Half speaking: Being partially speaking—someone who may be speaking but have a speech impediment, such as a stutter, or someone who loses the ability to speak.
Non speaking: A person who does not speak or only says a couple of words.
Non scribal: When typing/writing is hard and usually comes off mushed or wrong. People who are non scribal will usually use emojis (when online) or drawings to communicate.
Special interest/SpIn: Autistic exclusive—when an interest is extremely absorbing, that all the person wants to do is research, talk about it or do this thing. They are long lasting and can affect your whole identity—let's say, everything about your life goes around this thing.
Hyperfix: Autistic and ADHD exclusive—focusing on something really intensely. These interests/fixes are shorter-lasting.
Hyperfocus: Locking or latching onto doing something, being unable to stop.
Infodump: Infodumping is the release or dumping of information, this produces serotonin. It relates to special interests and hyperfixes.
Sensory issues: They are difficulties with organizing and responding to information that comes in through the senses.
Misophonia: When specific sounds cause an atypical response—such as disgust, anger, distress or panic.
Comorbidities: The simultaneous presence of two or more diseases, disorders or medical conditions in someone.
Overstimulated: This feeling happens when outer stimuli comes all at once. It's like being overwhelmed, but worse.
Understimulated: This feeling happens when there is no stimuli. It can cause feelings of dullness.
