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Terminology

B

Are there any particular aspects of autism related terminology that bother you?

Here are some of mine:

1.

ND -v- autistic

NT -v- allistic

The above terms seem (from reading here) to have become interchangeable but, to my mind, they shouldn't be.

Autism is under the umbrella of neurodiversity but so is Tourettes (for example).

Here is a wheel of ND but I've seen some with more 'conditions' included:

If ND is used instead of 'autistic' (when it's actually autism in particular that is probably the subject) I find it hard to follow the arguments/discussion.

2.

Another is the autism spectrum.

I don't know how it was meant when it was first termed, but my understanding of it isn't that there are ends of it that are less autistic, and more autistic, ie becoming more extreme, but rather than we (autistic people) can be less and more extreme as we dip in and out of the symptoms/characteristics:

Below is a link to an article that I think explains it well:

https://neuroclastic.com/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/

3.

Also, if other people say 'we are all on the spectrum, all a little bit autistic etc' then I think it's important to bear in mind that a diagnosis is only given if the characteristics of autism that we match to are disabling to us.

How do others see the above and also, are there any other terms that you find difficult/confusing?

Parents Reply Children
  • in reply to Alexa
    Alexa said:
    Can you explain a little more why you find allistic a better term than NT?

    Maybe it's clearer if I ask a question. 

    I read on here 'NTs' this and 'NTs' that almost universally as criticism.

    So my question is what are the characteristics that define NTs ie all the people who do not have a 'condition' that falls under the ND umbrella? 

    I might be able to attempt that for allistics but even that would be making assumptions and putting people into boxes.

    A quote from myself below

    B said:

    Yes, I don't see it as a 'them and us' situation as there will be lots of shades of grey in between 'NTs' and 'NDs'.

    I simply can't sum up the characteristics of an NT.

    I think there are 2 points here actually.

    One about a misuse of the terms but also making great assumptions about characteristics. 

  • in reply to Alexa
    Alexa said:
    Can you explain a little more why you find allistic a better term than NT?

    No better than today's post below.

    B said:

    How do we know they are neurotypical unless we know them well personally?

    They may have any of the other 'conditions' under the ND umbrella and therefore still be ND even though they aren't autistic.

    Therefore unless we know the person very well, 'allistic' is the appropriate term surely?