A Note on Terminology
ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder): A developmental profile that affects how a person perceives the world and interacts with others. The "Spectrum" refers to the massive diversity in how these traits show up—no two Autistic people are the same.
Combined (AuDHD): This refers to the frequent overlap where an individual meets the criteria for both Autism and ADHD. While they have distinct traits, they often interact, such as craving novelty (ADHD) while simultaneously needing rigid routine (ASD) to feel safe.
Domain: Social & Communication
Difficulty with the "unwritten rules" of social interaction.
Child (Mild) Misses jokes/sarcasm
Adult (Mild) Misreads social tone
Child (Severe) Limited back-and-forth talk
Adult (Severe) Severe difficulty with social nuance
Support: Speech therapy, Social coaching
Talking nonstop or dominating conversations, often without realizing it.
Child Talks nonstop in class
Adult Domination of conversations
Severe Disrupts class repeatedly
Adult (Severe) Social issues at work
Support: Therapy, Social coaching
Taking language exactly as it is stated; difficulty with metaphors.
Child Takes idioms literally
Adult Difficulty with metaphors
Severe Misunderstands safety instructions
Impact Miscommunication at work
Support: Social comprehension training
Struggles with reading or using facial expressions to communicate emotion.
Child Struggles reading emotions
Adult Misreads expressions
Severe Needs explicit verbal clarification
Impact Misinterpreting others' intent
Support: Speech therapy, explicit communication
Difficulty inferring or understanding the motives and emotional states of others.
Child Struggles with sharing
Adult Difficulty understanding motives
Severe Cannot infer others' states
Impact Major social misunderstandings
Support: Social-skills training
Using a flat tone or unusual pitch patterns that may sound monotone to others.
Child Flat or "robotic" tone
Adult Unusual pitch patterns
Severe Limited intonation
Impact Atypical speech affecting connection
Support: Speech therapy
Anxiety in social settings, often secondary to a lifetime of miscommunication.
Child Nervous with peers
Adult Anxiety before social events
Severe Avoids peers/work entirely
Impact Isolation or workplace avoidance
Support: Therapy, Social accommodations
