Communication
6 terms
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Communication tools and strategies that support or replace speech—from picture cards and gestures to text-to-speech apps and eye-tracking computers. Used by people who find speaking difficult, exhausting, unreliable, or impossible, whether always or sometimes.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Your ears work perfectly, but your brain's sound-to-meaning translator is glitching. You hear everything—too many things, actually—but understanding speech is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle while everyone waits for your answer. Not a hearing problem; a sound-interpretation problem.
Double Empathy Problem
The mutual difficulty autistic and non-autistic people have understanding each other's communication styles and perspectives. Not a one-sided autistic deficit, but a two-way translation problem between different neurological cultures.
Echolalia
The repetition of words, phrases, or sounds heard from others or oneself—a natural form of communication and processing particularly common in autistic people, serving functions from language learning to emotional regulation and social connection.
Infodumping
Enthusiastically sharing extensive knowledge about a passionate interest, often rapidly and in great detail. A natural neurodivergent communication style that expresses joy, builds connection, and shares expertise.
Non-verbal Communication
Communication that occurs without spoken words, including gestures, facial expressions, body language, written text, visual symbols, sign language, and alternative communication methods.