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What’s it all mean?
Decoding the jargon...
If you’re a parent or guardian of a neurodivergent child, you’ve probably found yourself lost in a raft of acronyms, professional jargon, and complex terminology. EHCP, SEND, SALT, ASD, CAMHS—the list goes on, and trying to make sense of it all can feel like learning a whole new language. But as parents we want to understand as these could be keys to gaining support for our children.
Understanding the terms used in special education and neurodiversity should be simple, but instead, it often becomes a frustrating obstacle. Parents are already dealing with the emotional and practical challenges of supporting their child’s unique needs. Throw in countless abbreviations and technical terms, and it’s no wonder so many feel overwhelmed and exhausted.
Why Is the Terminology So Confusing?
The world of special educational needs (SEN) and neurodiversity spans multiple sectors—health, education, psychology, and social care. Each area has its own set of acronyms and terminology, often with overlapping meanings or subtle differences depending on the context. For example:
- EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) – A legal document outlining a child’s needs and the support they should receive…but this is also often referred to as an EHC Plan and historically it was called a Statement!
- SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) – Support for children with communication challenges….but also called SLTs
- CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) – NHS services supporting children’s mental health.
To make matters more complicated, professionals sometimes assume parents already understand these terms, leaving families feeling even more lost. The stress of fighting for the right support is hard enough—trying to understand confusing terminology shouldn’t add to the struggle!
...the use of AuDHD
AuDHD is a term now used to describe individuals who are both autistic (ASD) and have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It acknowledges the unique experiences and challenges faced by people who are dual-diagnosed with both conditions.
While the medical and psychological fields have long acknowledged that autism and ADHD can co-exist, the term AuDHD is primarily a self-identifying label used within neurodivergent spaces rather than an official clinical diagnosis.
Key Traits of AuDHD:
Because autism and ADHD are both neurodevelopmental conditions, they can overlap in various ways:
- Executive Functioning Differences – Struggles with organization, time management, and task initiation.
- Sensory Sensitivities – Heightened or diminished sensory responses, common in both autism and ADHD.
- Social Differences – Difficulty with social communication, either due to autistic traits (e.g., preferring direct communication) or ADHD traits (e.g., impulsive conversation style).
- Hyperfocus & Interest-Based Attention – Intense focus on specific topics (autistic special interests) but difficulty maintaining attention in other areas (ADHD).
The Emotional Toll of Jargon Overload
When parents don’t understand the language used by schools, healthcare professionals, and government bodies, it creates unnecessary barriers. Miscommunication can lead to delays in getting the right support, misunderstandings about a child’s needs, and a deep sense of frustration.
Many parents have shared how they’ve left meetings feeling disheartened, simply because they didn’t fully grasp what was being discussed. No one should feel excluded from conversations about their own child’s education and well-being.
The Little Turtle Neurodiversity Glossary
I believe that knowledge is power. That’s why I’ve created a glossary on this website—a straightforward, easy-to-understand resource explaining the most common terms and acronyms related to neurodiversity and special education.
This glossary is designed to help parents and guardians feel more confident when navigating the system, ensuring they can advocate for their child without getting lost in technical language.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the confusing terminology, I hope this glossary offers you a bit of further support amongst the chaos or navigating the system. This way, you can focus on what truly matters—supporting your child in the best way possible.
