"Neurotypical" is overused

Post Reply New Topic

Why do people always use the word "neurotypical" to refer to someone who is not on the autism spectrum? To me, neurotypical means someone who is neurologically typical, that is, they do not have any neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, Tourette's, or schizophrenia. "Allistic" is what should be used, which actually means non-autistic. Anyone who is neurotypical is also allistic, but someone who has ADHD and not autism is allistic, but not neurotypical.

This thread has died already?

To me, 'non-autistic' seems the most accurate term for people who aren't autistic. Though I suppose that's exactly what 'allistic' means, so there you go!

All of these terms are problematic, if you take them too literally. There are autistics who lack self-awareness, and allistics who are self-obsessed, so if we want to be completely accurate about it, we need new labels altogether.

I choose to not take any of them literally, so if people say 'NT' or 'allistic', I know what they mean.

AFAIK, the term "allistic" came about on Tumblr because someone found the term "neurotypical" ableist due to implying that autistic people weren't "typical". One of the reasons I prefer "NT" is because I find the Tumblr autism community quite toxic. I could spend all day ranting about it but I won't.

I use it like the OP does. I would say "non-autistic" instead of "allistic" if I have a need for such a word, but I don't think I ever have.

I rarely hear the word "neurotypical" outside of here.

Like some repliers have said, it is best not to take these sorts of things too literally, otherwise you could keep on forever.

I don't find the term neurotypical offensive against Aspies, but I do if neurotypical is used to define a whopping 99% of the population, excluding the 1% that happen to be people on the spectrum only, because why should Aspies/autistics only be singled out and labelled as non-typical. So I can see Tumblr's point there.
BUT by defining neurotypical as a person without neurological disabilities that cause developmental (social or intellectual) delays or other neurological conditions like Schitzephrenia or brain diseases like Dementia, then that makes it sound much more reassuring to be "different".

But don't start asking questions like "but what about phobias like agoraphobia?" because I don't know, just think of it all as a complex thing, without getting bogged down with logic.

So what, we're not a part of "all" now? You are either "aut"istic or "all"istic?

Yes, I'm being tongue in cheek. But if you desire to examine words for abilist roots, the term "allistic" would be WAY more abilist than neurotypical. The root "typical" necessarily implies that other people are not typical. There are two groups. But allistic's root - all - means that this encompasses everyone and it doesn't. It doesn't include me. All is a root that erases us.

When people say neurotypical they are meaning just that, not "non autistic".

In my personal opinion, neurotypical or NT is an artificial term used to label most of society at large. It's usually used in an 'us versus them' context. Or more specifically in many cases, good vs evil, with the "NT's" being the bad guys.

I like the term allistic too. I have friends who have depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. All of them have been able to relate to me strongly due to their illnesses and differences and most certainly are not "neutrotypical." I don't think that we on the spectrum are as alone as many think.

I have a friend with Fragile-X, and while she doesn't have AS with it, she still shares some autistic traits. She finds social situations hard, she doesn't have many friends, she doesn't like dogs that bark loud, she struggles with finding a job, she used to flap her hands a lot when she was little, and she has trouble reading emotions in other people. I wouldn't say she's neurotypical.

I have a neighbour who has mental retardation, but not autism. She is 23 but has the mind of a 2-year-old. She requires 24-hour care, needs to be assisted with showering and dressing, and wears diapers. She cannot talk and lacks self-awareness, all she can do is cry or laugh. Compared to her, I feel neurotypical.

I know a 26-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome. He has very low IQ and only works 2 days a week packing boxes in a store room. He doesn't have AS with it but he can be very naive, and often takes things literally too. He has a few friends but they all have disabilities too. He can act a bit immature at home, so his mum told me.

See, these people may not be on the spectrum but they still have their own challenges that make them "different" from the norm.