Glossary of terms

AAC     

Augmentative and alternative communication – see leaflet

Alexithymia    

A term used to describe challenges identifying and describing ones own emotions

Allistic

This is a term used by some to refer to someone who is not autistic rather than using the term neurotypical.  it is another way of saying non-autistic

Aphantasic     

Refers to the inability to form pictures in the mind’s eye.

Burnout            

a state of emotional and physical exhaustion following long term stress

coregulation   

This is when the adult maintains a warm, calm approach whilst modelling emotional regulation strategies.  It is about the connection, trust and empathy following a child’s emotional response. 

Double empathy problem        

A theory that helps to describe what happens when autistic and non-autistic people struggle to understand each other which was developed by Dr Damian Milton.

Dyslexia           

Dyslexia is a set of processing differences that impact the acquisition of reading and spelling.

Dysregulated 

This is where someone has more or less energy than needed for an activity and can mean they experience distress

Echolalic         

This is repetition of the speech a child has heard.  It can be delayed echolalia or immediate echolalia

EHCP  

This stands for Education health and care plan

Emotional regulation

This is the ability to manage emotions in a given situation.

Executive function     

Relates to thinking processes needing for planning, organising, controlling impulses, problem solving and recalling information in the short term.

Gestalt language processor  

This is processing style where the individual is more likely to process information in chunks such as phrases. 

Hyperlexia      

Hyperlexia is a learning style where children can read without any formal teaching earlier in age than would be expected.

Intonation       

Intonation is what makes the melody or rhythm of our speech. It is the way the sound of the voice changes by rising and falling in pitch whilst someone is speaking; especially when this has an effect on the meaning of what is said. An example of intonation is when we raise our voice at the end of the sentence when asking a question.

Hyperfocus     

This refers to the intense concentration experienced when engaged in enjoyable activities and is often associated with ADHD

Masking           

Masking is a trauma response as a result of stigma around autistic behaviours

Monotropism 

This is an attention style where someone focuses on a small number of items and can be referred to as being in an attention tunnel/ monotropic flow

Neurodivergent           

This is a broad umbrella term which refers to individuals who’s brains are thought of as diverging from the societal ‘norm’. This includes autism, adhd and dyslexia. See leaflet for more information

Neurodiversity             

This is the diversity of human minds and the concept that all brains are different.  It refers to all humans and does not refer to individuals (see neurodiversity leaflet)

Neurodiversity movement     

This is a social justice movement that seeks civil rights, equality, respect and full societal inclusion for all

Neurodiversity paradigm        

This is the philosophical foundation for the neurodiversity movement.

Neurotype       

This comes from combining the words neuro meaning brain and type which is used to describe different types of brains

Neurotypical  

This refers to having a cognitive style which fits within what society understands as ‘normal’. 

PODD 

Pragmatic organisation dymanic display is a communication system created by Gayle Porter which uses pragmatic pathways to navigate around a communication book or app

Polytropic       

This is an attention style where someone focuses on a number of different things at once.

Processing        

How our brain receives, stores and responds to information that can relate to sound, vision and language

Self regulation             

This is the use of strategies to manage our energy in a given situation and match it to the activity

Semi-speaking             

This is a communication identity where someone is able to speak and has times when they do not have access to speech (see leaflet)

SENDCO          

This stands for special educational needs &/or disabilities coordinator

Stimming        

Repetitive sounds or actions that provides sensory input that is needed to support emotional regulation

Survival responses    

These are the stress responses to situations and include fight, flight, freeze and fawn. 

Transitions      

This is when there is a change from one thing to another such as from one activity to another or from a year group to another.