When you first start learning about executive function or neurodivergence, it can feel like stepping into a conversation mid-sentence.
Words are used like everyone already knows what they mean. Concepts like task initiation, masking, or emotional regulation are mentioned without explanation. And terms like neurodivergent, working memory, or identity spiral might sound familiar—but foggy.
That’s why I created this executive function and neurodivergence starter glossary.
This isn’t just a vocabulary list. It’s a bridge. A way to gently orient yourself when you’re still finding language for your lived experience. A resource for when you’ve just received a diagnosis (or self-discovered your neurodivergence) and want to understand yourself better—without feeling overwhelmed by jargon or judgment.
This glossary was designed with newcomers and returning learners in mind. Whether you’re here as a curious reader, a late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult, a parent, or a professional seeking more clarity and compassion in your language—this guide is for you.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Plain-language definitions of core concepts
Terms you might see in blog posts, planner pages, or course content
A mix of scientific, experiential, and coaching-informed vocabulary
An affirming tone that honors why these terms matter, not just what they mean
Above all, this glossary exists to reduce confusion and increase self-understanding—so that you can navigate your executive functioning journey with more confidence, clarity, and compassion.
Take what resonates. Skip what doesn’t. And return to it anytime you need a reminder that you are not alone in learning this language of self-discovery.
THE GLOSSARY
Core Executive Function Concepts
Executive Function (EF): The brain’s self-management system—includes skills like planning, working memory, time management, task initiation, and emotional regulation.
Executive Dysfunction: Difficulty with EF skills that may affect daily tasks, decision-making, organization, and follow-through.
Executive Function Access: The ability to use your EF skills in the moment; can fluctuate depending on energy, stress, context, or sensory load.
Task Initiation: The ability to begin a task independently and with minimal delay.
Working Memory: Holding and manipulating information in your mind temporarily (e.g., remembering a phone number long enough to dial it).
Cognitive Flexibility: The ability to shift thinking or approach when plans change, or new information emerges.
Emotional Regulation: Managing emotions in ways that support goal-directed behavior and personal well-being.
Impulse Control: The ability to pause before acting on immediate urges.
Planning and Prioritization: The ability to break down tasks into manageable steps and decide which ones matter most. It involves setting goals, making decisions about what to do first, and organizing actions in a logical order to achieve a desired outcome.
Organization:The ability to create and maintain systems that help you keep track of things—whether it’s physical objects, digital files, or thoughts and ideas. It includes knowing where things belong, being able to retrieve them when needed, and maintaining structure over time.
Time Management: The ability to understand, estimate, and navigate time effectively. This includes tracking how long tasks take, recognizing deadlines, pacing yourself, and adjusting plans when time runs short or shifts unexpectedly.
Self-Regulation: Managing emotions, behavior, and impulses to respond appropriately to a situation.
Self-Monitoring: Observing and evaluating your own behavior and performance in real time.
Neurodivergence Terms
Neurodivergent (ND): A term describing people whose brains process information differently, including those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, OCD, etc.
Neurodiversity: The natural variation in brain function across the human population. Promotes inclusion and acceptance of neurological differences.
Neurotypical (NT): A term often used to describe individuals whose brain development and functioning align with societal expectations of “normal.”
Masking: Hiding or suppressing one’s natural behaviors, preferences, or responses to fit in socially—often seen in autistic or ADHD individuals.
Unmasking: The process of allowing natural neurodivergent traits to be expressed after long periods of suppression.
Double Empathy Problem: The idea that communication breakdowns between autistic and non-autistic people stem from a mutual lack of understanding—not a deficit in empathy from one side.
Burnout (Neurodivergent Burnout): A state of intense exhaustion (emotional, cognitive, sensory) caused by prolonged masking, overstimulation, or constant adaptation.
Sensory Processing: How the brain receives and interprets sensory input (e.g., noise, light, touch). Some ND people experience hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity.
Stimming: Repetitive movements or sounds used by ND people for self-regulation, comfort, or focus (e.g., hand-flapping, tapping, humming).
Late Diagnosis: Receiving a diagnosis (e.g., ADHD, autism) in adulthood rather than childhood, often bringing both relief and grief.
Sensory Diet: A personalized plan of sensory activities that help regulate the nervous system.
Spiky Profile: A pattern of strengths and challenges that vary widely across different domains of functioning—common in neurodivergent individuals.
Neurotype: A neurotype refers to the unique way a person’s brain is wired to think, feel, process information, and interact with the world. It includes patterns of cognition, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and communication. Neurotypical and neurodivergent are broad categories of neurotypes, but every person’s neurotype is individual.
Emotional & Identity Language
Identity Spiral: A destabilizing state where a person feels disconnected from their sense of self, often triggered by stress, burnout, or change.
Self-Concept: The understanding or image a person holds about who they are.
Emotional Flooding: When emotions overwhelm cognitive capacity, leading to shutdown, meltdowns, or confusion.
Self-Recognition: The process of noticing and honoring your thoughts, preferences, and identity—even when they shift.
Alexithymia: Difficulty identifying and describing one’s own emotions; common in neurodivergent populations.
Interoception: Awareness of internal bodily signals like hunger, heartbeat, or tension—closely tied to emotional and sensory regulation.
Support Tools & Strategies
Task Launcher: A personalized tool or action that makes it easier to begin a task (e.g., playing music, setting a timer, using a visual cue).
Body Doubling: A technique where someone else is present (virtually or physically) to help you stay focused on a task.
Pomodoro Technique: A time management strategy using short work intervals (usually 25 min) followed by brief breaks.
Low-Dopamine Support: Strategies that help when you’re in low-energy, low-reward brain states (e.g., using novelty, sensory input, or rewards).
Sensory Anchoring: Using the five senses to ground yourself in the present moment (e.g., holding a textured object or smelling essential oils).
Microtasking: Breaking a task into very small, approachable steps to make it more manageable and less overwhelming.
Cognitive Reframing: Shifting your mindset to see a situation from a different (often more compassionate or useful) angle.
Anchor Activity: A calming or grounding task that brings regulation, often used at the start or end of a routine.
Window of Tolerance: The optimal zone of nervous system arousal in which a person can function well emotionally and cognitively.
Language Around Functioning
Low-Functioning/High-Functioning (deprecated): These terms are being replaced by more nuanced descriptions (e.g., support needs, access needs), as they often overlook the complexity of an individual’s experience.
Support Needs: The specific types and levels of assistance a person may require to navigate daily life successfully.
Internalized Ableism: Absorbing societal messages that suggest ND traits are inferior, often leading to self-doubt or shame.
Rejection Sensitivity: An intense emotional response to perceived criticism, rejection, or failure—especially common in ADHD.
Compassionate Language
Gentle Accountability: A supportive, non-judgmental approach to tracking progress or staying on task—often used in ND coaching.
Self-Permission: Granting yourself the right to rest, adapt, and choose what works for your nervous system—without guilt or comparison.
Self-Compassion: Treating yourself with kindness and understanding, especially in moments of struggle, failure, or uncertainty.
Why Language Matters
If you’ve ever come across phrases like “executive dysfunction,” “masking,” or “time blindness” and thought, Wait—what does that even mean?, you’re not alone. The language used to describe neurodivergent experiences is powerful—but it’s not always accessible.
For many people new to the world of ADHD, autism, or executive functioning, the terminology can feel like a barrier rather than a bridge. That’s why we created this glossary: to make the language of self-understanding more welcoming, intuitive, and human.
Because when you have the words for what you’re going through, everything starts to make more sense—and you begin to see that what felt like chaos might actually be a pattern. A pattern with a name. And a name you can work with.
Who This Glossary Is For
This glossary was designed with real people in mind—not just professionals or researchers. It’s for you if:
You’ve recently been diagnosed or self-discovered as neurodivergent.
You suspect you might be, and you’re trying to make sense of your experiences.
You’re a parent, partner, or friend trying to support someone you love.
You’re a coach, therapist, or educator looking for affirming ways to connect with your clients or students.
Or you’ve been on this journey for a while, but still bump into unfamiliar terms and want a grounded, supportive way to learn them.
This resource isn’t about gatekeeping knowledge. It’s about giving you tools to recognize yourself—and support others with more empathy and understanding.
Why Glossaries Are Essential for Self-Understanding
When you’re figuring out how your brain works—and why certain things feel harder than they “should”—language is a lifeline.
Having a glossary gives you:
Validation: “Wait, that’s a thing? I thought it was just me.”
Clarity: A clear way to talk about your experiences with others.
Confidence: The ability to advocate for yourself or someone you care about.
Relief: That moment when a definition puts into words something you’ve always felt but couldn’t explain.
For many neurodivergent people, executive function struggles can impact memory, focus, and overwhelm thresholds. Having one centralized, beginner-friendly glossary makes learning feel lighter—and more empowering.
What Makes This Glossary Different
This isn’t a clinical dictionary—and it’s not meant to be.
Instead, this glossary is:
Human-centered: Definitions are written in plain, compassionate language.
Neurodivergent-affirming: It’s designed to validate lived experiences—not pathologize them.
Context-rich: We don’t just tell you what a term means—we show you why it matters and when it might come up in real life.
Flexible: Many of the terms here exist on a spectrum, and their meaning can shift depending on context. We embrace that complexity instead of pretending it’s all black and white.
Most of all, it’s written for people who want to understand themselves and others better—not just memorize definitions.
How to Use the Glossary
There’s no wrong way to engage with this glossary.
Here are a few options:
Browse the whole list when you’re curious or looking to expand your understanding.
Look up a specific term that showed up in a blog post, video, or conversation.
Save it as a reference to revisit when you hit moments of confusion or doubt.
Share it with friends, family, therapists, educators, or anyone who wants to better support neurodivergent people.
You can think of it as your personal decoder ring—a tool for making sense of a world that often expects you to translate yourself without a guide.
Language That Lights the Way
When you’re navigating a foggy concept like executive function—or untangling years of misunderstood neurodivergence—words matter. The right language doesn’t just explain something. It affirms it. It gives you a mirror.
This glossary isn’t about “fixing” how you think. It’s about naming your experience so you can finally understand it—and work with it. Whether you’re newly exploring these terms or revisiting them with fresh eyes, may these definitions give you more than knowledge. May they give you clarity, connection, and self-trust.
You deserve a language that fits your life—not one that makes you feel like a problem to be solved.