What Does That Mean? Explaining Terms and Concepts Around Neurodivergence, Autism, ADHD, Etc.

Throughout these pages are terms and words that might be unfamiliar to you if you are just now looking into neurodivergence, Autism, ADHD, or AuDHD.  

So here’s a break down of some of the most common terms and phrases you might run across: 

• Neurotypes – put simply, “brain” types; this term means the different ways of thinking we currently recognize; typically used when comparing “neurodivergent” to “neurotypical” brains 

• Neurotypical – or “typical brain” aka “normal people”; the supposed majority of humans on the planet at the moment 

• Neurodiverse – “different brain” or any way of thinking termed “different” to the norm; this is characterized by different ways of interacting with and processing information, social interactions, and ways of thinking; also noted through physical brain and genetic differences 

• Autism – a neurodevelopmental difference in the way a person’s brain functions, intakes and processes data, and experiences the world; characterized by “rigid thinking”, a deep sense of justice and rule following, deeply felt but not shown empathy, and many other traits 

• Autistic/Autist – terms people with Autism use to describe themselves; “Autistic” has been linked to pathologizing language, thus “Autist” is becoming preferred for someone to describe themselves 

• ADHD – a neurodevelopmental difference characterized by “excessive” movement or talking, flightiness of thought, and rapid pattern recognition; presents as multiple types depending on gender, race, and social background 

• ADHDer – a person with ADHD 

• Inattentive Type – also called “internalized ADHD”; this type is internal in that the hyperactivity occurs in thoughts more than actions; characterized by spaciness, lack of focus, and inability to start or complete tasks due to executive functioning issues 

• Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Type – the “typical” ADHD everyone thinks of; characterized by the child that won’t sit still or stop talking, the disruptor, the causer of chaos 

• Combined Type – when you show behaviors of both Inattentive and Hyperactive/Impulsive Type ADHD 

• AuDHD – when you have co-occurring Autism and ADHD 

• AuDHDer – a person with both Autism and ADHD 

• Co-occurring Conditions – recently added to the DSM-V, this is what medical practitioners call combined diagnoses of separate neurotypes; it is possible to have multiple forms of neurodivergence at once 

• Stimming – any form of behavior that seems random or repetitive from the outside but is deeply regulating to the Autist or ADHDer performing the action; helps to regulate emotions and the body when situations or the environment threaten meltdown or overload 

• Tic(s) – typically refers to the behaviors shown by those with Tourette’s Syndrome, though they can show up for several different neurotypes; repetitive behaviors beyond the person’s conscious control 

• Hyper fixations – deeply personal interests 

• Monotropism – a type of deep focus seen in Autistics, characterized by focused attention on one or several interests that lead to hyper fixations 

• Executive functioning – the ability to plan out tasks logically and easily 

• Executive Dysfunction – what happens when executive functioning fails; an inability to start or complete tasks due to a derailment of thought processes or misunderstanding of the situation 

• Task Paralysis – an inability to start tasks, typically characterized by executive dysfunction issues 

• Rigid Thinking – what most people think about Autistic thinking; this doesn’t mean Autists can’t change their minds or be fluid thinkers; it means that they are slower to do so and only will after fully understanding and processing the change 

• Echolalia – a tic or stim that many neurodivergents, especially Autistics, have; characterized by repeating words, phrases, or sounds over and over again because they are pleasant for the Autist 

• Sensory Processing – the ability, or lack thereof, to correctly input and process the senses; this includes sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, interoception (the physical sensations your body gives you like thirst, hunger, or needing the bathroom) and proprioception (the physical sense of your body and where it is in space) 

• DSM-V – the official diagnostic criteria of mental health disorders; used worldwide, but developed primarily by US researchers, this is the criteria most mental health professionals know and use in diagnosing neurodivergence 

• Self-Identity/Self-Diagnosis – the act of researching and realizing through others’ lived experience stories that you aren’t weird – you’re neurodivergent  

• Fawning Behavior – part of the “fight or flight” set of behaviors; fawning occurs when you can’t run or fight and must instead “make nice” with the threat 

• Meltdown – what happens when a neurodivergent hits overwhelm and everything they’ve been holding in comes out; can involve screaming, crying, fighting, or biting; also considered to be “lashing out” or “temper tantrums” 

• Shutdown – another reaction to neurodivergent overwhelm; characterized by a complete “shut off” of reaction, thought, and movement; usually occurs in extreme states of overwhelm or sensory overload