communication Archives

literal thinking

Literal thinking is a precision-oriented processing style common in autistic people, where words, questions, and instructions are interpreted according to their exact meaning rather than their implied or intended meaning. It is one of the most commonly misunderstood autistic traits — both by neurotypical people who assume it means autistic people cannot grasp metaphors or jokes, and by autistic people themselves who dismiss it because they understand figurative language perfectly well. Many autistic adults comprehend metaphors, sarcasm, and idioms with ease, but still respond very precisely to the literal content of questions, miss the unstated social layer attached to a comment, or get stuck on vague terms like "often" that don't contain enough information for an accurate answer. Literal thinking shows up most clearly when communication leaves gaps that the listener is expected to fill in — and it becomes far less of a factor when the information provided is clear, specific, and explicit.

pattern recognition in autism

communication focus

Pattern recognition is a thinking style common in autistic people, involving a tendency to notice underlying structures, connections, and regularities across many areas of life — sensory, social, systemic, and practical. Research supports enhanced visual and perceptual pattern detection in autism, and many autistic adults describe this extending into how they solve problems, read people, predict outcomes, and make sense of the world. Pattern recognition varies enormously between individuals in which domains it shows up, and works best when the data is consistent and rule-governed — making it a genuine strength in many contexts, while less effective in the noisy, context-dependent domain of real-time social interaction.

special interests

communication interests joy self-regulation sensory

Special interests are deeply focused areas of engagement that autistic people experience with a level of emotional investment, sustained attention, and joy that goes well beyond typical hobbies. Clinically categorised under restricted repetitive behaviours, special interests are one of the defining characteristics of autism — and for most autistic adults, they are a primary source of motivation, regulation, identity, and connection. Between 75% and 95% of autistic people have at least one special interest, and 82% have more than one.

rigid thinking (cognitive inflexibility)

communication emotions energy focus motivation thoughts

Cognitive inflexibility, also erroneously referred to as rigid thinking, is a diagnostic characteristic of autism that describes difficulty shifting between tasks, perspectives, or plans. The label captures how the trait looks from outside — but the internal experience is better understood through monotropism: a processing style that goes deep rather than wide. The depth that makes sustained focus, thoroughness, and reliability possible is the same depth that makes switching costly. The difficulty and the strength are the same mechanism.

the mTOR pathway

communication memory neurobiology pain self-regulation sensory

The mTOR pathway is a signalling system inside every cell that regulates the balance between building new structures and recycling old ones. In autistic brains, this pathway runs hotter than typical, suppressing the cell's internal cleanup processes. Up to 58% of autism-associated genes relate to this pathway, making it a point of convergence where many different genetic routes produce similar outcomes — from differences in synaptic pruning and sensory processing to neuroinflammation and the balance between excitatory and inhibitory brain signalling.

intolerance of uncertainty

communication self-regulation stress support

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) describes the degree to which a nervous system needs predictability in order to function — not as a preference, but as a genuine operational requirement. When outcomes are unknown or plans unconfirmed, a high-IU nervous system tends to generate contingencies: running through variables, gathering information in advance, and finding it difficult to settle until enough is known. For many autistic and ADHD adults, IU runs at a higher baseline than in the general population, and shows up in everyday experiences like needing to know the plan before you can be present, finding plan changes disproportionately disruptive, or preparing carefully for situations in order to free up bandwidth to actually enjoy them. It's not about rigidity or control — it's a nervous system requesting the information it needs to work properly.

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD)

communication pain self-regulation stress

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is an intense emotional and physical response to perceived rejection, criticism, or the fear of falling short — experienced by many neurodivergent people. The hot flash of shame, the spiral of "what did I do wrong," the doomsday scenarios building while the other person is simply answering their front door — these are recognisable experiences for many people who grew up having their authentic selves ignored, dismissed, or misunderstood. RSD is a pattern recognition system shaped by real history, and having language for it means you can begin to watch the reaction rather than be yanked along by it.

How To Make Your Life Neurodivergent-friendly

communication self-care support

You've tried all the ADHD tips online, but nothing seems to stick. That's because neurodivergent brains don't come with universal solutions—what helps one person might not work for you at all. Here's how to discover your specific adaptations and create a life that actually works for YOUR brain. Explore your needs, what environments you work best in, what overwhelms you, and what helps you regulate.

justice sensitivity

communication emotions self-image society thoughts

Justice sensitivity is the heightened awareness of rule violations and inconsistencies, paired with an intense emotional and physiological response. For many neurodivergent people, fairness and consistency function as essential navigational tools when you can't reliably read social cues or predict what will happen next. When rules are applied inconsistently or stated expectations don't match actual consequences, your nervous system registers this as a genuine threat to your ability to navigate the world safely. The intensity of your reaction reflects the pattern violation itself, regardless of the moral weight of the situation. Justice sensitivity is morally neutral—it tells you when a rule has been violated, but not whether the rule was good or fair in the first place.

impulsivity

communication decisions self-regulation

Impulsivity in ADHD is characterized by a shortened pause between impulse and action: a bright flash that leads immediately to behaviour before you can fully consider it. Impulsivity shows up in different forms: verbal (blurting out, interrupting), emotional (expressing strong feelings immediately), decision-making (choosing immediate rewards over delayed ones), and motor (acting on physical urges).

What’s actually happening when I go into verbal shutdown?

communication language speech stress

A verbal shutdown might appear to be “nothing” from the outside, but actually, a lot is going on beneath the surface. Language, speech, even just on the technical side, are very complicated, even before you start adding the social layers on top of it (word choices, cadence, implications of tone of voice, non-verbal communication aspects). …

verbal shutdown

communication language sensory speech

Verbal shutdown is a temporary inability to produce speech despite having intact language and thoughts - an involuntary neurological response to overwhelm. It's when words exist in one's mind but cannot be physically spoken due to sensory, emotional, or cognitive overload.
Casually and incorrectly it is sometimes also referred to as 'going non-verbal', but this term is not preferred by the non-speaking autistic community.

palilalia

communication language speech

Palilalia is a form of verbal expression where someone involuntarily repeats their own words or phrases, often with decreasing volume. This natural pattern can help with language processing and self-regulation, particularly during times of stress or when processing complex information.

auditory stimming

communication focus self-regulation sensory speech voice

Auditory stimming is a form of self-stimulatory behaviour that involves making sounds with your voice, whether through non-word vocalisations (vocal stimming) or speech-based expressions (verbal stimming). This natural and beneficial form of self-expression helps with emotional regulation, sensory processing, and achieving a sense of comfort and focus.

scripting

communication language speech

Scripting is a communication pattern where individuals use memorized or prepared phrases in their interactions. Common in autism, it serves as a valuable tool for managing social situations, expressing needs, and conserving energy while communicating. Scripting can be prepared ahead of time or drawn from previously heard phrases, and helps many autistic people communicate more effectively and authentically.

echolalia

communication language speech voice

Echolalia is a speech pattern where individuals repeat words, phrases, or sounds they have heard. Common in autism, it serves various purposes, including communication, language processing, and emotional expression. Echolalia can be immediate (repeating something just heard) or delayed (using stored phrases from past experiences), and is a valid form of communication that helps many autistic people express themselves and interact with others.

flat affect

communication emotions speech voice

Flat affect is an autistic speech pattern that can include fewer facial expressions, reduced eye contact and speech that others might describe as 'monotone'. While these might be be interpreted as diminished emotional response, they actually reflect a different way of processing and expressing emotions. The intensity can vary with stress or cognitive load, and it often indicates deep focus rather than disinterest.

object constancy

communication focus memory relationships

Object constancy is the notion that you remain connected and aware of items or people even when they are not visible or physically around. Difficulties in object constancy lead to the "out of sight, out of mind" experience, which is very common with ADHD folk. Not to be confused with object permanence, which is a developmental stage in babies, and relates to them believing things genuinely stop existing when not in sight.

info dumping

communication interests relationships

Info dumping is the casual name referring to the act of sharing an extensive amount of information, usually about a subject or topic the person is extremely passionate about.

double empathy

communication emotions prejudice society support

The double empathy problem is a concept in neurodiversity studies that suggests a mutual misunderstanding between neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals.

demand avoidance

communication energy focus motivation stress

Demand avoidance means appearing opposed to doing something when it's perceived as a demand, especially from an authority figure - even if you actually want to do the thing. While it may look like defiance or stubbornness to others, it's actually an involuntary self-preservation response triggered by threats to autonomy. This response happens automatically, not as a conscious decision to be difficult.

autistic speech patterns

communication language speech

Autistic speech patterns refer to unique ways autistic folks communicate or use language, but these patterns can also be present throughout the neurodivergent spectrum.

Autistic speech patterns include
- echolalia (echoing what you or others say),
- palilalia (repeating your own words or phrases),
- scripting (planning what you'll say),
- verbal stims (using words to stim)
- and vocal stims (using sounds to stim).

emotional dysregulation

communication emotions self-care self-regulation stress

Emotional dysregulation is the inability to regulate the intensity and quality of emotions in order to generate an appropriate emotional response and return to an emotional baseline.

When someone has difficulty regulating their emotions, they are easily overstimulated and they can get upset or overwhelmed easily. On the other hand, they can also have trouble with calming down, relaxing, or decompressing and it takes much effort to regulate their mood.

From the outside, it might look like overreacting. From the inside, it feels like your nervous system is overwhelmed by emotional information your brain is struggling to process and modulate.