Autism Jersey: Championing a full and inclusive life for people with autism, Aspergers Syndrome and other associated complex developmental disorders, by raising awareness and working in partnership with all agencies to help and support them, their families and carers.

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Autism related Jargon - what does it all mean?

ASPERGER SYNDROME (AS) - Part of the autistic spectrum of disorders.  To see our fact sheets on autism and Asperger syndrome for more information, click

AUTISM - Part of the autistic spectrum of disorders.  To see our fact sheets on autism and Asperger syndrome for more information, click

AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASD) - This is an umbrella term, mostly commonly used in Europe.  Autism, Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism all come under the term ASD.

AUTISTIC TENDENCIES / TRAITS - This will not be a diagnosis, someone either has an ASD or not.  However, it is a way to describe someone who has difficulty in some of the same areas as someone with an ASD (but not all three areas).

CHECKLIST FOR AUTISM IN TODDLERS (CHAT) - A useful screening implement which seems to predict well the likelihood of a child being affected by an ASD.  The CHAT particularly assesses gaze monitoring, pretend playand proto-declarative pointing and is usually used for children around 18 months old.

COMPREHENSION - Understanding of spoken or written material.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER OF COMMUNICATION - A developmental disorder is one that is usually diagnosed in childhood, and is a part of who the child is. The difficulties associated with ASD are usually present before the age of three and continue throughout life.  So, a developmental disorder of communication is one where one of the main difficulties is communicating with others (expressing yourself and understanding what others are expressing).  Communicating with others is often called ‘social communication’.

DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW FOR SOCIAL & COMMUNICATION DISORDERS (DISCO) - DISCO is designed to elicit a picture of the whole child or adult through a story of their development and behaviour from infancy. 

DIAGNOSTIC & STATISTICAL MANUAL 4TH EDITION (DSM-IV) - This is one of the main international diagnostic classifications. 

EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE - Ability to use words to express ideas, thoughts and feelings through speech.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY - General delay in all areas of a child's development.

HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM (HFA) - This term was first used to describe children diagnosed as having autism, who later developed language and basic social skills. Now it used to describe someone who might otherwise be said to have Asperger’s syndrome.

IMAGINATIVE PLAY - Use of make believe, dressing up and pretend in play.

INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES 10TH EDITION (ICD-10) - This is another of the main international diagnostic classifications.

KANNER's AUTISM, CLASSIC AUTISM OR ATYPICAL AUTISM - A person given this diagnosis will be on the more severe end of the spectrum and will probably (but not always) have learning difficulties too. The term ‘Kanner’s autism’ comes from a doctor called Leo Kanner.

MODERATE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES (MLD) - A child with moderate learning difficulties usually has an IQ ranging from 50-75.

NON VERBAL LEARNING DISORDER (NVLD) - People with a NVLD may struggle with interacting with people in the same way that people with an ASD may,  but they also have problems with the skills of maths and some visual or spatial skills (e.g. maps, jigsaws, etc.).

PATHOLOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE SYNDROME (PDA) - This is a term to describe children who show extreme resistance when demands are places upon them, for example, requests and expectations. People with an ASD may show this kind of behaviour as part of their condition, so a separate label may not be needed.

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER (PDD) - Part of the autistic spectrum of disorders.  To see our fact sheets on autism and Asperger syndrome for more information, click

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (PDD-NOS) - Part of the autistic spectrum of disorders.  To see our fact sheets on autism and Asperger syndrome for more information, click

PROTO-DECLARATIVE POINTING - This type of pointing is to declare an interest in something as opposed to proto-imperative pointing which is used for requesting something.  Proto-declarative pointing is deficient in children with ASDs.

RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE - Ability to understand other people's language.

SAVANT SKILLS - Some people with an ASD have a ‘special talent’, which is also known as a ‘savant skill’.

SEMANTIC PRAGMATIC DISORDER (SPD) - Part of the autistic spectrum of disorders.  To see our fact sheets on autism and Asperger syndrome for more information, click

SEVERE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES (SLD) - A child with severe learning difficulties usually has an IQ of below 50.

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION - People with an ASD experience difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, for example, not really understanding the meaning of gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice.

SOCIAL IMAGINATION - People with an ASD have difficulty in the development of play, imagination and flexibility of thought, eg having a limited range of imaginative activities, possibly copied and pursued rigidly and repetitively). 

SOCIAL INTERACTION - People with an ASD have difficulty with social relationships, for example appearing aloof and indifferent to other people or making odd, naive social approaches.

SYMBOLIC PLAY - Using toys or objects in pretend play.  For example, pretending to use a banana as a telephone.

TRIAD OF IMPAIRMENTS - Everyone with an ASD has difficulty with social interaction, communication and social imagination.  This is known as the "Triad of Impairments".   In addition to the Triad of Impairments, some people with an ASD also experience sensory and co-ordination difficulties.