The purpose of this page is to provide awareness of some common ND characteristics. During my journey, I found it very empowering to understand the range of characteristics I had that were considered neurodiverse. This understanding helped me to better function in day to day life.

The Resonance Map

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

Social Communication ASD
Pragmatic communication disorder

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

Excessive Talking ADHD
Pressured speech

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

Literal Thinking ASD
Concrete thinking

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

Facial Expressions ASD
Social perception deficit

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

Perspective-Taking ASD
Theory of mind deficit

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

Voice Patterns ASD
Prosodic impairment

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

Social Anxiety Shared
Social phobia

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