Autism

Question

Hi.What is the antonym for autism?I can think of hyperactivity, but I  that's not close enough.I think there is a medical name for it.Thank you for your helpHamid

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I didn't know there was one.  I would just call the person gregarious.

Nugso · Answer

I googled it and found out allism. But I have no idea whether the word exists.

CalifJim · Answer

Nugsoallism

Can you find a reputable source in neuroscience that cites this as a real condition of any kind?

All the sources I investigated seemed to write about 'allism' as a spoof.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

hrsaneiWhat is the antonym for autism?

I'd say a normal brain and normal behavior.

I don't think most neurological conditions have opposites. Something's wrong with part of your brain, so what's the opposite? Something's wrong with a different part of your brain? Or a normal brain?

The question is a little like asking What's the opposite of a flat tire? Would it be a broken windshield? Or an inflated tire?

CJ

Prajwalkr · Answer

hrsaneiWhat is the antonym for autism? I think there is a medical name for it.

I could only come across this word after lots of searching:

Neurotypical.
https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Neurotypicalism&sugexp=chrome,mod=16&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&q=neurotypical&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=y_wdUMrnEsXyrQfMyoGYBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CG4QkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=9ad5295148063789&biw=1024&bih=681
The above word actually means mentally alright, but is now widely common as an opposite of autism.
Another http://autism.about.com/od/autismterms/g/neurotypical.htm:

"Neurotypical" means, simply, not autistic or otherwise diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental difference.
Neurotypicals are generally assumed to have certain qualities in common, including strong social and communication skills, a lack of sensory issues, and an ability to navigate new or socially complex situations. Naturally, this assumption isn't universally accurate: plenty of people without diagnoses are shy, nervous, prefer routine, are upset by loud noises, etc.

Some say it's the opposite of neuroatypical, but many also say it is widely used as an almost perfect opposite of autism.

I have written all this as you asked for a medical term. There are many more common day words to describe the condition.

Warm regards
Prajwal

Nugso · Answer

CalifJimCan you find a reputable source in neuroscience that cites this as a real condition of any kind?

Unfortunately. I'm ignorant of reputable sources. I mean even if the site I looked is reputable, I don't know. Also I checked a few dictionaries and, as expected, found nothing.

CalifJim · Answer

NugsoAlso I checked a few dictionaries and, as expected, found nothing.

Yes, that sounds right. I think 'allism' is a neologism. Somebody was just playing with Greek roots.

auto = self
alli = others

autism ~ orientation toward oneself
allism ~ orientation toward others

Autism is, to broadbrush it, a pathology in which the person is not able to relate to others.
Allism is, in the spoofs, a "pathology" in which the person is able to relate to others.

But being able to relate to others is, in fact, what we consider normal, so, as far as I've been able to determine, allism is a totally bogus term invented by someone who is playing with the idea of turning concepts upside down, as if saying "What if the world were such that autism is considered normal and what is normal is considered a pathological condition?"

CJ

Hrsanei · Answer

Thank you all for your great replies.
Hamid

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know how old this thread is as there doesn't seem to be any dates, but anyway here's a reply as I believe I have "allism" or better stated as "opposite to autism", essentially it means acutely and continuously over-sensitive, especially to other people, and intensely aware of one's own self, also incredibly thoughtful, analytical, I have always been like this but only gradually worked it all out in my own mind with age and now I have a good understanding (which I crave for) of how to fit in and adjust to social situations, I can best describe it as feeling like you're an actor in your own film all the time. The hyper-sensitivity is the worse aspect, it is very stressful being in the same room as a lot of people as I am constantly a. picking up on their emotions and b. running through strategies in my own mind to deal with them. Worst of all is being in a situation when one person is speaking to a group, I can pick up on the nervousness of the speaker and the (probably subconscious for most people) nervousness of the listeners, this can be so bad I have real panic attacks and want to leave the area. I have done autism tests and confusingly show a moderate degree of autism, especially the perfectionism/orderliness part of it (though most of this is in my mind and poorly executed in practice, so I call myself a lazy perfectionist!), but I would find it horrific to be abrupt or unpleasant to people as then I would feel their bad emotions too strongly. Other things maybe related or just personal are being very creative, full of ideas all the time, bad sleeper with always lots of vivid dreams, stiff joints, bad senses (especially eyesight and hearing) but good athletically, Friends are always a problem, they do such insensitive and hurtful things sometimes, it has taken me a lifetime to make myself more hardened to this but it’s still not easy. So there you are, from what I've read about autism it seems the direct opposite, the other side of "normal" if you like, but apparently not recognised in the same way autism is, not that I'm bitter, well, I wouldn't want you to feel that....

Autism

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions