Neurotypical

Neurotypical describes a person whose brain grows and works the way most people's do. It's the word for people who aren't neurodivergent. That term is for people whose brains grow or work in other ways, as with autism or dyslexia. Neither word is a medical diagnosis. Both come from the neurodiversity movement, which holds that there's no one right way to think, learn or act.

In talk about autism, people often use the word loosely for anyone who isn't autistic. The Cleveland Clinic uses it, while a group of autism researchers says it's often misleading and suggests non-autistic when that's all you know about someone. Neurotypical doesn't mean normal or better. The people it describes still have strengths and challenges, and theirs just aren't shaped by a brain difference.

You may hear a brother, sister or parent called neurotypical in online groups. Trying to seem neurotypical, often called masking, is linked to exhaustion and burnout in autistic people. If you're not sure how your child is developing, a screening and a talk with your child's doctor are the next step.

• Words the team uses: Ask your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) whether the team says neurotypical or non-autistic, and what they mean by it.
• Explaining it at home: Ask for simple ways to explain these words to siblings, and how to talk with extended family.