Reference

ADHD glossary

66 ADHD, autism and executive function terms, each explained in one or two plain sentences.

66 terms

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): A US civil rights law that prohibits disability discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations at work, school and in public places.
ADD: An older name for what is now called ADHD, predominantly inattentive presentation.
ADHD: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a neurodevelopmental condition affecting how attention, activity and impulses are regulated.
ADHD coach: A professional who helps people with ADHD set goals, build systems and stay accountable. Coaching is not regulated like therapy.
ADHD tax: An informal term for the extra money and time life costs when things are forgotten or late: late fees, missed returns, rush shipping.
Accommodation: A change to how, when or where you work or study that helps you do it fairly, such as extended test time or written instructions.
AuDHD: A community term for being both autistic and having ADHD.
Autism: A neurodevelopmental condition involving differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests.
Body doubling: Doing a task while someone else is present, in person or online, which many people with ADHD find helps them start and stay on task.
Brain dump: Writing down every task, worry and idea in your head, so your working memory is free to focus.
Burnout: A state of deep exhaustion after long periods of stress or overload. People with ADHD often describe a boom-and-bust cycle.
CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapy: a structured therapy that builds practical skills and changes unhelpful thought patterns. Adapted versions exist for adult ADHD.
Combined presentation: An ADHD presentation where both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive traits are strongly present.
Comorbidity: When two conditions occur together, such as ADHD and anxiety.
DBT: Dialectical behavior therapy: a therapy focused on emotion regulation, distress tolerance and relationships.
Decision fatigue: The drop in decision quality and energy after making many decisions. Default menus and routines reduce it.
Default: A pre-decided choice (a default dinner, outfit or route) that removes a daily decision.
Doom pile: A pile of unrelated items waiting for decisions. Short for “Didn’t Organize, Only Moved.”
Dopamine: A brain chemical involved in motivation and reward. ADHD is linked to differences in dopamine signaling.
Dopamine menu: A personal list of quick, healthy activities that boost mood and energy, used instead of reaching for your phone.
DSM-5-TR: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the manual US clinicians use to diagnose ADHD and other conditions.
Emotional dysregulation: Difficulty managing the intensity and duration of emotions. Common in ADHD though not part of the formal criteria.
Executive function: The brain’s management skills: working memory, starting, planning, switching, time management and self-control.
Executive dysfunction: Difficulty with executive functions. Common in ADHD and several other conditions.
External brain: Any tool that holds information for you, such as a notes app, calendar, checklist or whiteboard.
Fidget: A small object or movement that keeps hands busy and helps some people focus and listen.
Friction: Anything that makes a task harder to start or finish, such as a missing password or an extra step.
Hyperactivity: Excess movement or restlessness. In adults it often shows up as inner restlessness.
Hyperfocus: Intense, absorbed focus on something interesting, with difficulty stopping.
IEP: Individualized Education Program: a US plan for K–12 students who qualify for special education services under IDEA.
Impulsivity: Acting or speaking quickly without pausing to think through consequences.
Inattention: Difficulty sustaining attention, organizing, following through and remembering everyday tasks.
Interest-based nervous system: A popular description of how many ADHD brains are activated by interest, urgency, novelty and challenge rather than importance.
Interoception: The sense of internal body signals like hunger, thirst, tiredness and needing the bathroom.
JAN: The Job Accommodation Network: a free US service with guidance on workplace accommodations.
Launch pad: A spot by the door where keys, wallet, bag and outgoing items always live.
Masking: Hiding or compensating for traits to fit in. It can protect socially but costs a lot of energy.
Meltdown: An intense, involuntary response to overwhelm. Different from a tantrum; it isn’t done on purpose.
Minimum day: A day where only a few basic tasks are required, used on low-energy days.
Neurodivergent: Having a brain that works differently from what is considered typical, such as with ADHD, autism or dyslexia.
Neurotypical: Having a brain that works in ways considered typical.
Non-stimulant: An ADHD medication that isn’t a stimulant, such as atomoxetine. Prescribed and monitored by a clinician.
Object permanence (out of sight, out of mind): A phrase used in ADHD communities for forgetting things you can’t see. Not the same as the childhood development term.
Overwhelm: Feeling flooded by too many demands, decisions or sensations at once.
Parking lot: A list where new ideas or tasks are captured so you can return to what you were doing.
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive: An ADHD presentation where hyperactive and impulsive traits are strongest.
Predominantly inattentive: An ADHD presentation where inattentive traits are strongest. Previously called ADD.
Presentation: The current pattern of ADHD traits: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive or combined. It can change over time.
Procrastination: Delaying tasks despite knowing it may cause problems. With ADHD it’s often linked to task initiation and time perception.
Psychoeducation: Learning about a condition and how it affects you. A core part of ADHD support.
Reasonable accommodation: A change an employer or school makes so a person with a disability has equal access, unless it causes undue hardship.
Rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD): A popular term for intense emotional pain after perceived rejection or criticism. Not a formal diagnosis.
Rescue day: The lowest-energy day plan: only eating, drinking and basic care are required.
Restartable routine: A routine designed to be easy to restart after missed days, with a minimum version.
Section 504: A US law that protects students with disabilities from discrimination. A 504 plan lists accommodations in K–12 schools.
Sensory overload: When sensory input becomes more than the brain can comfortably process.
Sensory seeking: Looking for more sensory input, like movement, pressure or sound, to help regulate.
Shutdown: A response to overwhelm where a person withdraws, goes quiet or can’t respond.
Stimming: Repetitive movements or sounds that help regulate, common in autism and also in ADHD.
Stimulant: A class of ADHD medication, such as methylphenidate or amphetamine-based medicines, prescribed and monitored by a clinician.
Task initiation: The ability to start a task. One of the most commonly affected executive functions in ADHD.
Task paralysis: The frozen feeling of being unable to start, even when you want to.
Time blindness: An informal term for difficulty sensing time passing and estimating how long things take.
Transition: Stopping one activity and starting another. Often a sticking point with ADHD.
Visual timer: A timer that shows time shrinking visually, making time easier to see.
Working memory: The mental workspace that holds information while you use it.