- Ableism
- Discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities, including neurodevelopmental differences. It can be systemic, institutional, or interpersonal, and often stems from the belief that typical abilities are superior.
- ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- A neurodevelopmental difference characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that can impact functioning and development. Individuals with ADHD often have an interest-driven attention system.
- Alexithymia
- A trait characterized by difficulty identifying, describing, and distinguishing one's own emotions and internal physical sensations. It does not mean an absence of feelings, but rather a challenge in consciously recognizing or verbalizing them.
- Authenticity (Neurodivergent)
- Living and expressing oneself in a way that aligns with one's true neurodivergent nature, needs, and preferences, often involving a reduction in masking.
- Autism / Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC)
- A neurodevelopmental difference characterized by distinct ways of perceiving the world, social communication and interaction styles, focused interests, and often, sensory sensitivities and a need for routine. It exists on a spectrum with a wide range of presentations.
- Body Doubling
- A productivity strategy where another person is physically or virtually present while one works on a task. Their quiet presence can provide gentle accountability and help maintain focus, particularly for individuals with ADHD or executive function challenges.
- Burnout (Neurodivergent)
- A state of intense physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion often caused by the cumulative stress of living in a world not designed for one's neurotype, ongoing masking, sensory overload, and other challenges associated with being neurodivergent. Can lead to a loss of skills and increased sensitivities.
- Cognitive Flexibility
- An executive function that involves the ability to switch between different thoughts, tasks, or perspectives, and to adapt to changing situations.
- Communication Styles
- The diverse ways individuals use and interpret language, engage in conversation, and convey meaning. Neurodivergent communication styles can differ significantly from neurotypical norms (e.g., literal interpretation, directness, infodumping).
- Direct Communication
- A style of verbal interaction that prioritizes clarity, explicitness, and saying what one means without relying heavily on hints, nuance, or implied meanings. Often preferred by many neurodivergent individuals.
- Double Empathy Problem
- The concept that communication and empathy breakdowns between individuals of different neurotypes (e.g., an autistic person and a neurotypical person) are often mutual and bidirectional, arising from a mismatch in experiences and communication styles, rather than solely a deficit in one individual.
- Dyscalculia
- A specific learning difference that affects an individual's ability to acquire arithmetical skills. Individuals with dyscalculia may have difficulty understanding number sense, simple number concepts, or mathematical reasoning.
- Dysgraphia
- A specific learning difference that affects writing abilities. It can manifest as difficulties with handwriting (motor dysgraphia), spelling, and/or organizing and expressing thoughts in written form.
- Dyslexia
- A specific learning difference that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It is characterized by difficulties with phonological awareness, verbal memory, and verbal processing speed.
- Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder - DCD)
- A neurodevelopmental condition affecting physical coordination. It causes an individual to perform less well in daily activities requiring motor coordination than expected for their age and intelligence.
- Executive Functions
- A set of higher-level mental processes that help manage thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. These include planning, organization, working memory, task initiation, inhibition, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility.
- Hyperfocus
- An intense state of concentration on a particular task or interest, often to the exclusion of everything else. Common in individuals with ADHD and autism.
- Hyper-sensitivity (Sensory Over-responsivity)
- A heightened or intensified response to sensory input (e.g., lights, sounds, textures, smells, tastes, movement, internal sensations). Everyday sensations can feel overwhelming or painful.
- Hypo-sensitivity (Sensory Under-responsivity)
- A reduced or delayed response to sensory input. Individuals may require stronger or more prolonged stimuli to register a sensation and may appear oblivious to certain inputs.
- Infodumping
- The act of enthusiastically sharing a large amount of detailed information about a topic of intense interest, common in neurodivergent communication.
- Interest-Driven Attention System
- A common characteristic in ADHD where attention and motivation are more readily engaged by tasks that are personally interesting, novel, challenging, or urgent, rather than by perceived importance or external rewards alone.
- Interoception
- The sense of the internal state of the body, including sensations like hunger, thirst, pain, body temperature, heart rate, and the physical feelings associated with emotions.
- Literal Interpretation
- Understanding words and phrases primarily by their most direct, dictionary-definition meanings, often without readily grasping implied meanings, sarcasm, or figurative language.
- Masking (Social Camouflaging)
- The conscious or unconscious suppression of natural neurodivergent traits and the performance of neurotypical social behaviors to fit in, avoid judgment, or navigate social situations.
- Neurodiversity
- The concept that differences in brain function and behavioral traits are natural variations within the human population, just like diversity in ethnicity or gender. It is a biological fact.
- Neurodiversity Paradigm/Movement
- A social justice movement that promotes civil rights, equality, respect, and full societal inclusion for neurodivergent individuals. It views neurodivergence as a natural human variation, not a deficit to be cured.
- Neurodivergent (ND)
- An umbrella term for individuals whose brain functions, learns, processes information, or behaves in ways that differ significantly from what is considered "typical" by societal standards (e.g., autistic individuals, those with ADHD, dyslexia, etc.).
- Neurotypical (NT)
- A term used to describe individuals whose brain functions, neurological development, and behavioral traits fall within the range considered "typical" or common by societal standards.
- Proprioception
- The sense of body awareness, providing information from muscles and joints about body position, movement, and the force being exerted.
- Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
- An intense, overwhelming emotional pain experienced in response to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, or failure. Often associated with ADHD, but can be experienced by others.
- Self-Advocacy
- The ability to understand and communicate one's own needs, rights, and desires effectively to others.
- Sensory Diet (Concept)
- A personalized plan of sensory activities and inputs integrated throughout the day to help an individual meet their unique sensory needs, stay regulated, and maintain an optimal level of arousal for functioning. (Not related to food diet).
- Sensory Overload
- A state of distress and overwhelm that occurs when the brain receives more sensory input (from one or multiple senses) than it can effectively process or integrate.
- Sensory Processing
- The way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses.
- Sensory Seeking
- Actively looking for or craving intense, frequent, or varied sensory input to feel regulated, alert, or engaged. Often a response to hypo-sensitivity.
- Spiky Profile
- A common neurodivergent pattern of having significant strengths in some areas of ability alongside significant challenges in others, rather than a more even distribution of skills.
- Stimming (Self-Stimulatory Behavior)
- Repetitive movements, sounds, or actions (e.g., rocking, hand flapping, humming) used to self-regulate, manage sensory input, express emotions, or aid focus. A natural and often necessary behavior for many neurodivergent individuals.
- Task Initiation
- An executive function involving the ability to begin tasks, especially those that are non-preferred, overwhelming, or lack immediate reward.
- Vestibular System
- The sensory system located in the inner ear that detects motion, gravity, and head position, contributing to balance and spatial orientation.
- Working Memory
- An executive function involving the ability to temporarily hold and manipulate information in your mind to complete a task.