autism spectrum disorder
Social-communication developmental condition
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition affecting social interaction, communication, and behavior.
The "spectrum" indicates wide variation—some individuals need substantial support while others live independently with few obvious differences from neurotypical people.
Common features include difficulty reading social cues, intense focus on specific interests, and sensitivity to sensory input.
Often abbreviated ASD.
Her son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age three.
Curative mental treatment
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
- occupational therapyRestoring practical life abilities
- speech therapyTreatment for communication disorders
behavioral therapy · ABA · IEP · 504 plan · special education · respite care · social skills training · life skills
Not using speech
- echolaliaInvoluntary repetition of speech
- AACSound compression format
- signingInscribing one's name
- gesturesExpressive body movements
selective mutism · pragmatics · prosody · intonation · literal interpretation · social cues · eye contact · body language
Having atypical brain function
- neurotypicalStandard cognitive wiring
- neurodevelopmentalConcerning brain and nerve formation
- neuroplasticityBrain's self-rewiring ability
- sensory processingBrain interpreting incoming stimuli
executive function · hyperlexia · savant syndrome · synesthesia · dyspraxia · dyscalculia · dysgraphia · neurobiology
Brain interpreting incoming stimuli
- sensory overloadExcessive simultaneous stimulation
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
- hyposensitivityDecreased reaction to stimuli
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
shutdown · stimming · proprioception · vestibular · light sensitivity · noise-canceling · weighted blanket · overwhelm
Groups seeking policy influence
- repetitive behaviorsActions performed again and again
- routinesEstablished sequences of actions
- pattern recognitionIdentifying regularities in inputs
- attention to detailFocus on specifics
systemizing · honesty · loyalty · face blindness · time blindness
Assistance a person requires
- high-functioningOperating effectively despite impairment
- early interventionPrompt response to emerging problems
- developmental delaysSlower than typical progression
- diagnostic criteriaStandards for identifying conditions
DSM-5 · late diagnosis · self-diagnosis · clinical assessment · comorbidity · regression
State of perceiving reality
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- inclusionBeing made part
- self-advocacyPromoting one's own interests
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
accessibility · representation · destigmatization · empowerment · infinity symbol
Mark of dishonor
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- barriersThings blocking access
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
- isolationComplete separation from others
exclusion · anxiety · burnout · rigidity · inflexibility · bullying · ableism · infantilization
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
- occupational therapyRestoring practical life abilities
speech therapy · behavioral therapy · ABA · IEP · 504 plan · special education · respite care · social skills training · life skills · assistive technology
nonverbal
Not using speech
gestures · selective mutism · pragmatics · prosody · intonation · literal interpretation · social cues · eye contact · body language · scripting
neurodivergent
Having atypical brain function
- neurotypicalStandard cognitive wiring
- neurodevelopmentalConcerning brain and nerve formation
- neuroplasticityBrain's self-rewiring ability
sensory processing · executive function · hyperlexia · savant syndrome · synesthesia · dyspraxia · dyscalculia · dysgraphia · neurobiology · neuropsychology
sensory processing
Brain interpreting incoming stimuli
- sensory overloadExcessive simultaneous stimulation
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
- hyposensitivityDecreased reaction to stimuli
meltdown · shutdown · stimming · proprioception · vestibular · light sensitivity · noise-canceling · weighted blanket · overwhelm
special interests
Groups seeking policy influence
- repetitive behaviorsActions performed again and again
- routinesEstablished sequences of actions
- pattern recognitionIdentifying regularities in inputs
attention to detail · systemizing · honesty · loyalty · face blindness · time blindness
support needs
Assistance a person requires
- high-functioningOperating effectively despite impairment
- early interventionPrompt response to emerging problems
- developmental delaysSlower than typical progression
diagnostic criteria · DSM-5 · late diagnosis · self-diagnosis · clinical assessment · comorbidity · regression
awareness
State of perceiving reality
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- inclusionBeing made part
- self-advocacyPromoting one's own interests
accommodation · accessibility · representation · destigmatization · empowerment · infinity symbol
stigma
Mark of dishonor
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- barriersThings blocking access
- misunderstandingFailure to grasp meaning
isolation · exclusion · anxiety · burnout · rigidity · inflexibility · bullying · ableism · infantilization · pathologizing
- Disabilitiesblind, paralysis, vision loss, developmental disability, hearing impairment
autism, autistic, autistically, spectrum, spectra, spectral, spectrally, spectroscopy, spectroscopic