Neurodivergent-Specific Glossary

This glossary is for anyone who falls under the umbrella of deafness.

That includes—but is not limited to—people who identify as autistic, dyspraxic, or living with ADHD, OCD, Dyscalculia or Tourette's Syndrome. We don’t gatekeep. This resource is for anyone who's brain works differently and finds these terms useful.

It includes terms and examples to help explain how communication barriers, sensory experiences, and the need for things like masking or stim toys affect daily life and benefit eligibility. This glossary isn’t exhaustive—so if there’s a term you feel is outdated or missing, please let us know!

AAC
(Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Different ways of communicating without talking. This includes typing, using picture boards or speech apps, pointing, or using gestures and facial expressions.

Difficulty knowing, understanding or explaining feelings or emotions — either your own or other people’s. You might not be able to tell if you’re upset, angry or hungry.

Alexithymia

Allistic

Someone who is not autistic.

Eating very few or only certain foods, often because of strong reactions to textures, smells, or fear of choking. It’s not about weight or body image.

ARFID
(Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

A brain difference that affects executive functioning tasks such as attention, focus, memory, motivation, emotions, and self-control. You may struggle to start or finish tasks, sit still, or stay organised.

Struggling to make sense of what you hear, especially when there’s background noise or fast talking. You may hear the words but not understand what they mean.

APD
(Auditory Processing Disorder)

AuDHD

Someone who is both autistic and has ADHD. These conditions often happen together and affect thinking, energy, emotions, and sensory experiences.

Your brain works differently in how you think, communicate, feel and sense the world. You may need routines, struggle with social rules, or feel overwhelmed by sounds, lights, touch or change.

Autistic

Autistic Burnout

Mental or physical exhaustion from social, emotional or sensory pressure. You may feel like you've crashed: you might temporarily lose skills like speech and memory, ability to do usual tasks, emotionally shut down, or need lots of rest to recover.

Doing a task at the same time as someone else to help you stay focused -- like having someone with you while you do housework or paperwork.

Body Doubling

Camouflaging (also called Masking)

Hiding how you really feel or how you naturally behave to try and fit in. This can include forcing eye contact, copying others, or pretending to be fine when you're not. It often leads to stress and exhaustion.

Feeling too tired or overwhelmed to make choices, even simple ones like what to wear, go, or eat.

Decision Fatigue

Decision Paralysis

Getting stuck and unable to make a decision at all, even when you know you need to.

Struggling with numbers, maths, time or money. You may find it hard to read a clock, plan travel time, or understand how much something costs.

Dyscalculia

Dysgraphia

Finding handwriting or spelling very hard. Letters may come out messy, take a long time to write, or it may be difficult to think of the right words.

A condition that makes reading, writing, and spelling harder. You may read slowly, mix up letters, or struggle to remember written instructions.

Dyslexia

Dyspraxia

A condition that affects balance, movement and coordination. You might find it hard to ride a bike, get dressed quickly, or do things like tying laces or using cutlery.

Repeating words, sounds or phrases you’ve heard. This might be calming, automatic, or a way of communicating when you can't find the words.

Echolalia

Executive Dysfunction

Struggling to plan, organise, start or finish tasks. This can affect things like cleaning, paying bills, making meals or getting dressed.

Objects you use to help stay calm or focused, like a stress ball, chew toy, spinner or something to squeeze.

Fidget/Stim Toys

Fine Motor Skills

Movements using your hands and fingers, like writing, brushing your teeth, or buttoning clothes. These might be slow or difficult.

Being very sensitive to the point it might feel painful and even overwhelming with sounds like alarms, humming lights, or people chewing.

Hyperacusis

Hyperfixation

Getting deeply focused or obsessed on a particular activity or topic.

Being so focused that you lose track of time or forget what's going on around you. It can be hard to stop even if you really need or want to.

Hyperfocus

Hypersensitivity

Being very sensitive to lights, smells, sounds, taste or touch. Things that seem small to others feel unbearable.

Not noticing things like pain, temperature, noise or taste in the same way as others. You might not feel hungry, or might not notice loud sounds.

Hyposensitivity

Inattentive (ADHD)

Trouble staying focused, following conversation, or remembering tasks, and may be easily distracted.

Sharing lots of detailed information about something you're very interested in, often all at once with excitement.

Infodumping

Inertia
(also called Autistic Inertia)

Finding it hard to start or stop doing things—even simple things—even if you want to.

Struggling to recognise what your body needs. You may not realise you're thirsty, in pain, too hot or need the toilet.

Interoception Issues

Irlen Syndrome

Reading or looking at patterns, lights or screens is difficult. You might get headaches, blurred vision or need coloured overlays.

Hiding how you naturally behave to try and fit in. This can include copying others, forcing eye contact, or pretending to understand. It can cause burnout, anxiety and an identity crisis.

Masking
(or Camouflaging)

Meltdown

A sudden loss of control due to feeling overwhelmed. You might cry, shout, run away, hit things or go non-verbal. It's not a tantrum—it’s your brain and body reacting to overload.

Copying someone else’s tone of voice, facial expression or behaviour. This might happen without you realising it.

Mirroring

Misophonia

Strong emotional reactions (like anger, panic or disgust) to certain sounds like chewing, breathing or tapping.

Talking for a long time about something without stopping or checking in with the other person, especially when passionate about the subject.

Monologuing
(or Info Dumping)

Monotropism

Focusing deeply on one thing at a time, so its hard to switch attention to a new focus.

Someone whose brain works in a different way to what most people expect. This includes being autistic, dyspraxic or having ADHD.

Neurodivergent

Neurotypical

Someone whose brain works in a way that is more typical or expected by society. The opposite of neurodivergent.

Someone who does not use speech to communicate. They might use writing, pictures, sign language or AAC.

Non-speaking

PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)

Finding it very hard to do everyday tasks or follow instructions. This is due to anxiety, and can lead to shutting down, refusing, or needing to stay in control.

Getting stuck on a thought or action and finding it hard to let it go, even if it’s not helpful.

Perseveration

Polytropism

Paying attention to lots of things at the same time. Opposite to monotropism.

The body’s sense of where it is in space. You might bump into things, misjudge distances, or feel unsteady.

Proprioception

Regression

Losing skills that you used to have—like speaking, dressing, or concentrating—often during burnout or illness.

Feeling extremely upset or hurt by rejection or criticism, even if it’s small or imagined. You might avoid situations where you could be judged.

RSD
(Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria)

Ruminations

Thoughts that go round in your head, even when you want them to stop. Often linked to guilt or overthinking.

Only eating certain foods, often the same ones. This might be due to sensory aversion or being familiar.

Same Food

Scripting

Using memorised phrases or lines when speaking. This might help with social situations or reduce anxiety.

Hurting yourself on purpose during times of extreme stress or sensory overload. This might include hitting, scratching, or biting.

Self-Injurious Behaviour

Sensory Avoidance

Trying to stay away from sensory experiences that feel overwhelming or painful—like strong smells, lights or noise.

When too much sensory input builds up and becomes unbearable. You might feel panicked, disoriented, shut down, or have a meltdown.

Sensory Overload

SPD
(Sensory Processing Disorder)

A condition where your brain doesn’t process sensory information in a usual way. You may be over- or under-sensitive to things like noise, touch, taste or smell.

Actively looking for strong sensory input to feel regulated like spinning, chewing, touching certain textures, or seeking pressure.

Sensory Seeking

Shutdown

A silent or internal reaction to overload. You might go quiet, stop speaking, or not be able to move or think clearly.

Not being able to speak in certain settings or with certain people, even though you can talk in other situations. This is often caused by anxiety.

Situational Mutism

SPINs
(Special Interests)

Very strong interests that you feel deeply connected to. Learning about or engaging with these can help with relaxation, identity, and emotional regulation.

Repetitive actions like rocking, flapping, tapping or humming that help with calming, focusing or dealing with emotions or sensory input.

Stimming
(Self-Stimulatory Behaviour)

Synaesthesia

A condition where senses mix together. For example, you might see colours when you hear music or taste flavours when you hear certain words.

Being very sensitive to touch. Things like clothing tags, seams or certain fabrics might feel painful or unbearable.

Tactile Defensiveness

Tics

Sudden movements or sounds that are hard to control, like blinking, coughing, or saying words. Common in Tourette’s and some other conditions.

Losing track of time or struggle with how long something takes. You might run late, underestimate how long things take, or forget plans or meetings.

Time Blindness

Tourette’s Syndrome

A condition that causes sudden, repetitive sounds or movements (tics).

Starting to stop hiding your natural neurodivergent traits. This might include letting yourself stim or asking for the support you need.

Unmasking

Vestibular System

The part of the body that helps with balance and knowing where you are in space. If it doesn’t work properly, you might feel dizzy or unsteady.