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Understand

Plain-language explanations of neurodivergence, experiences and concepts, with evidence and uncertainty available when you want them.

Orientation, not diagnosis. These pages explain concepts and preserve their evidence routes. They do not diagnose individuals or replace appropriate professional judgement.

New word? Break it down

Unfamiliar words do not have to stay opaque. A word can be split into useful parts, then connected back to its full meaning.

Monotropism mono – trop – ism

mono: one or single
trop: turning, direction or orientation
ism: a concept, system or theory name

Word parts are a learning and memory aid, not the formal definition. Historical word roots and modern meanings do not always match exactly.

Start with what you notice

You do not need to know the technical term. Choose a description that sounds close to what you are trying to understand.

I cannot get started even when I want toTask initiation
Noise, light or touch becomes too muchSensory overload
I do not notice hunger, thirst or other body signalsInteroception
I change or hide how I act to fit inMasking and camouflaging
My attention locks strongly onto a small number of thingsMonotropism
I find it hard to identify or describe what I am feelingAlexithymia

Or describe it in your own words with Find →

Browse by kind of topic

These groups are for navigation. Some ideas overlap; the grouping does not create a diagnostic boundary.

Conditions & neurotypes

Names used for diagnoses, neurotypes and developmental conditions.

ADHDADHD can affect attention, activity, impulsivity and managing everyday tasks. It can look different between people and situations, and diagnosis needs more than a checklist or a single test.
AutismAutistic people can experience communication, social situations, routines, interests and sensory input differently. Autism looks different from person to person, and support needs can vary.
DyslexiaDyslexia mainly affects learning and using word reading and spelling. It can continue into adulthood, and it does not mean that someone has low intelligence.
DyscalculiaDyscalculia is a persistent difficulty learning and using number and arithmetic skills; it is not the same as simply being bad at maths.
Developmental co-ordination disorderDevelopmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) affects how easily someone learns and carries out coordinated movements. Everyday activities can take more effort, and the difficulties can continue into adulthood.
Developmental language disorderDevelopmental language disorder (DLD) is a persistent difficulty understanding and/or using language that affects everyday life. Bilingualism does not cause DLD, and DLD can occur alongside other developmental conditions.
Learning disabilityIn the UK, a learning disability means lifelong difficulty learning or understanding new information together with difficulty managing everyday life independently. It is not the same thing as a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Tourette syndromeTourette syndrome involves motor and vocal tics that change over time. Swearing is not what defines Tourette syndrome, and support or treatment should depend on what is actually difficult for the person.

Attention, focus & getting started

Ways attention, planning and starting actions can work.

Executive functionExecutive functions help us hold things in mind, switch attention, pause responses and organise actions towards a goal. Difficulties with them can make starting, planning or finishing tasks hard, but they are not a diagnosis by themselves.
Task initiationTask initiation is the step between intending to do something and actually starting it; difficulty here can have many causes.
MonotropismMonotropism is a theory that describes attention as tending to concentrate deeply on a smaller number of interests or demands at once.

Sensory & body signals

How sensory input and signals from inside the body can be noticed and handled.

Sensory processingPeople differ in how strongly they notice and respond to sound, light, touch, movement and other sensory input. These differences can affect comfort and everyday life, and they are not unique to one diagnosis.
Sensory overloadSensory overload is when sensory input becomes overwhelming or difficult to manage; what causes it varies by person and context.
InteroceptionInteroception is how the nervous system senses and interprets signals from inside the body, such as hunger, heartbeat or temperature.
StimmingStimming means repetitive movements, sounds or sensory actions that can serve many functions, including enjoyment or regulation.

Communication, feelings & social effort

Understanding communication, emotions, social adaptation and exhaustion.

Communication differencesCommunication differences include variation in speaking, understanding, timing, non-verbal communication and use of AAC.
AlexithymiaAlexithymia describes difficulty identifying or describing emotions; it is not the same thing as autism and can occur across groups.
Masking and camouflagingMasking or camouflaging is when someone changes or hides parts of how they naturally communicate or behave to meet social expectations.
Autistic burnoutAutistic burnout is a community and research term for severe, long-lasting exhaustion and reduced capacity reported by some autistic people.

Big-picture language

A wider idea used to talk about neurological variation and society.

NeurodiversityPeople's brains and nervous systems vary. Neurodiversity is a word for that variation, and it is also used when people talk about rights, disability, support and how neurological differences should be understood.

All topics A–Z

All 20 reviewed Topics remain visible here when you already know the term or want the complete index.