DSM definition
Neurotypical Disorder is defined in section 299.70 of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Orders (DSM-IV) as:
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
1. Reliance on multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body posture, and gestures to communicate, sometimes with disregard to what is actually said.
2. Highly developed peer relationships leading to overdependence on others to deal with feelings.
3. A lack of spontaneously sharing information and/or knowledge with other people (e.g., by a lack of relating special interest in detail to others), often sharing emotions with others instead.
4. Is in need of social or emotional reciprocity
B. Patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
1. Rapidly changes subjects in conversation.(subjects used are generally about social relationships)
2. Apparently inflexible adherence to non-specific, social routines or rituals.(ex. a constant need to ask another person, "How are you?" but without wanting an accurate answer)
3. Preoccupation with balance and/or motor coordination skills, many times leading to excessive participation in sports.
4. Persistent preoccupation with people and an unexplained need to find out what people have done in the preceding hours.
C. The disturbance causes clinically significant functional incapability in technological, solitary, or other important areas of functioning.
D. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills or adaptive behavior and curiosity about the environment.
E. Criteria are not met for another specific Normal Spectrum Disorder.
Maybe we should start some kind charity for this "Neurotypicl Disorder"?
Yes, maybe we should. They need help. Here are a few suggestions:
Cure All Neurotypicals -- CANT
Alleviate Neurotypicality Today -- ANT
We are going to need to raise a lot of money in this charity, there are a lot of NT's out there! :lol:
High Function NT's
Some neurotypicals do not experience the disorder to its fullest extent. Many are actually highly functional and have few problems when engaging in solitary or technical pursuits.
Ex. One HFNT(High Functioning Neurotypical) that I know would rather spend time by herself than with people, and is only mildly challenged in technical subjects. (ex. she's not as computer illiterate as most NT's her age). However, she still has problems with such important skills as hyperfocusing. When I try to engage in an in dept conversation about my current interest(whether it be cats, oceanography, or the weather[mainly tornados or different types of clouds]), she quickly loses interest and asks for me to stop "going on about the same thing." Because of this difficulty, she displays the characteristic NT conversation pattern of rapidly jumping from one topic to another. This lack of hyperfocusing results in learning problems for NT's, including HFNT's. While they might have general knowledge of a subject, they are unable to focus on ideas long enough to learn more of the finer details. In addition, while HFNT's might be more accepting of differences than your average NT. Most HFNT's are less likely to critisize or make fun of others. Some HFNT's have quirks themselves*! Yet they still are confused when others do not follow social rules, and might comment on someone's apparent lack of social skills if that person is a close friend or family member.
HFNT has a better prognosis than LFNT(low functioning neurotypical). Many are able to develop hobbies and are not completely dependent on others.
*Quirky HFNT's are very high functioning and are sometimes described as having Eccentric Syndrome. Sometimes HFNT and Eccentric Syndrome are used interchangeably. Many say that someone diagnosed with Eccentric Syndrome is just a quirky, talented HFNT. However, some with HFNT have some quirks, but are still not quirky enough to have Eccentric Syndrome. There is a very fine line between the two and many believe they are the same thing.
Wouldn't it be better to laugh at ourselves rather than at others if we want them to listen to us, we'll have to make it entertaining or it might not register.
I was thinking that since we are trying to raise awareness in people, they might misinterpret something as subtle as an NT awareness thing / take offence. I am undecided about it (but should have said something at the meeting-sorry)
-I just don't know how most people are going to respond to or even 'get' the experience of being placed under the power discourse of the medical profession in this way. When I showed ISNT to my wife she thought it was very funny but she is not one of the people who perhaps don't know what autism/AS is in the first place and what it is like to be on the receiving end of a discourse like that.
On the other hand, hers could be the main reaction and it could work.
Perhaps we could keep it in reserve until the following year when AFF's aims and existence (to the rest of the world) were better known.
Personally, I think most of the comments and NT disorders are very amusing and most NT's would also find them so. I'll even be your guest NT if you like - I've been trying to make myself less independant but my wife keeps refusing to fetch me beer. I even tried using PECS by holding up a picture of a can of beer and pointning to my mouth but she just responds with sign language of her own.
Kev-
your post slays me.
I find it very interesting that you are an NS (sufferer of neurotypical
syndrome), have a great sense of humor and are 'slumming' on
an AS board.
While I, like to go as "Kev" (and tried to register as Kev) and am
a loud-mouthed pro-aspie militant (with a good sense of humor
I like to think).
Do you want to be matter or anti-matter? :-)
Kevin, some people who come here may be NT or undiagnosed aspie, or somewhere in between, such as traits.
Some people have a child on the spectrum, and after reading a lot of info begin to realise that they may actually be on the spectrum themselves (the autism genes come from somwhere).
Kev *might* be in that position.
yep!
was just having fun with my namesake.
-Kev
i think my worst NT trait is aggression, but it can be an asset, too, in NT land.
still, all joking aside, aggression is probably the most awful trait of NTs that for some stupid reason, is considered normal within a pretty wide range.
Hello, this is my first post on AFF, I was at Spectrum Haven first because I thought AFF was for activists. I have been on #Chatautism for a while now (I go there everyday). I forgot what I was gonna do on here first, so I figured I'd post the term I made up recently about NTs. So, anyway... here it is.
The new term I have made is the mental condition that neurotypicals have. It is called Aliusism.
How I got this term was I observed that the aut in Autism means auto, which means self. So I looked up the Latin word for other, which is the opposite of self, and got alius. So there you go, Aliusism.
Hello, this is my first post on AFF, I was at Spectrum Haven first because I thought AFF was for activists. I have been on #Chatautism for a while now (I go there everyday). I forgot what I was gonna do on here first, so I figured I'd post the term I made up recently about NTs. So, anyway... here it is.
The new term I have made is the mental condition that neurotypicals have. It is called Aliusism.
How I got this term was I observed that the aut in Autism means auto, which means self. So I looked up the Latin word for other, which is the opposite of self, and got alius. So there you go, Aliusism.
Arggghh.....is there a cure?
Another one, courtesy of Amy:
Disorder of Logic
They need understanding for all their many faults.
Often comorbid with very severe NT spectrum disorders is Logical Deficit Fantasizing Disorder, or LDFD. Strictly speaking, this entails a marked indifference to, or oblivion of, logical processes, often (but not always) coupled with an obsessive desire to convince oneself and others of what one wants to be true, either despite lack of evidence, or in the face of evidence to the contrary.
Fantasies often appear innocuous on the surface, and in theory may even be possible, such as honest politicians, large-scale quantum teleportation, and the like. However, fantasies become pathologized when a person's desire leads them to believe, and very often attempt to convince others, that such an unlikely event has, in fact, occured. Often, sufferers will believe an event with infinitesimal probability is commonplace, frequent, or otherwise prosaic, and in attempting to convince others will utilize set stock phrases such as "we only use ten percent of our brains" or "truth is stranger than fiction."
Usually this is coupled with an incomplete or otherwise very selective knowledge of the fields of science or medicine, with heavy reliance on "popular knowledge" such as surviving folk myths or urban legendry.
If left untreated, this disorder can lead to religious fundamentalism, or even New Ageism.
Sometimes, an illogical belief is neutral or upsetting, or may be believed because of mild humor or latent racial stereotypes. In these cases, it may simply be referred to as LDD, logical deficit disorder.
Social Obedience Disorder (also known as Average Joe or Josephine Syndrome)
Prone to be easily manipulated to conform to social norms as manifested by at least 3 of the following:
*aspires to the accomplishments of pop-icons
*dresses strictly for appearance as opposed to comfort (i.e., high heels, thongs, incredible amounts of jewelry)
*engages in weight-lifting and muscle-building for looks as opposed to health
*believes the campaign promises of politicians
*does not vote
*buys vehicles according to the most popular style as opposed to economy
*watches Reality TV
*main focus is on people, relationships, and sex with a basic disregard for almost all other subjects
The Cell Phone Addict, as manifested by at least 2 of the following:
*owns a cell phone and carries it on his or her person or in her purse at least 2/3s of the day
*talks on that cell phone for at least 1/3 of the day (unrelated to business matters)
*has had car accidents related to his/her cell phone use
*claims of self-harm or suicide if cell phone is lost, taken away, or broken
Pride in lack of intelligence as manifested by at least 2 of the following:
*is frequented to have said \"I don't know\" and \"I don't care\"
*fails to consistently excel in academics due to a lack of appropriate effort
*shows great elation or disbelief when an above average grade is earned
*frequently copies homework or gleans answers from other students
*graduates with a bachelors degree and still fails to know what to do with it but concludes to take a year off to \"party\"
*poor skills in longterm goal-orientation (i.e., graduate work, career, family)
-----------------------------
Come to think of it, the Cell Phone Addict could be a disorder all unto itself. And actually, looking around at society today, I think it is.
This thread IS funny. Beyond that, though, it is actually insightful. Worthwhile reading for us more or less NT's (while I did discover quite a few Aspie traits in myself while we were having my son diagnosed, the more I hang out with you guys the more I can see I really don't think the same way as you and my son do. Which is fine. Love you anyway!)
Neurotypical Disorder (NTD)
Neurotypical Disorder (NTD) is a neurological condition commonly affecting individuals who are not on the autistic spectrum. Many theories have been put forward to explain the bizarre behaviours and beliefs of people with NTD. The numerous and complex cognitive impairments of NTD patients cannot be described in a document of this size. I would like to propose a model of a triad of impairments; Interpersonal Compulsion (IC), egocentricity and an impaired Theory of Minds (T O M), to explain the disordered personalities of patients with NTD.
Sufferers of NTD compulsively seek interpersonal experiences in the form of social events or casual meetings, in fact any contact with another human being is seen by the neurotypical patient as an opportunity for creating an interpersonal emotional experience. The drive to satisfy their emotional needs pervades every aspect of their lives. Simple telephone messages or financial transactions with supermarket cashiers are hijacked to meet this social compulsion. IC impairs the NTD sufferer's ability to live independently and maintain employment, as IC commonly causes NTD patients to waste time during working hours gossiping and chatting instead of productive activity. IC can also impair the NTD patient's ability to maintain personal relationships as they may become depressed or resentful if their voracious emotional needs are not met by spouses, family and friends. NTD patients may even turn to their own children to satisfy their emotional needs.
The obsession with being a part of social groups that is commonly observed in NTD patients can leave sufferers tragically vulnerable to peer-group pressure and commercial advertising that exploits social psychology. NTD sufferers often demean themselves by manifesting deceptive behaviour and flattery in desperate attempts to establish and maintain personal relationships.
The egocentric nature of neurotypical individuals can be observed in their insistence that all people who they meet act in an engaging and attentive manner towards them. NTD sufferers can become offended or resentful when others are not as socially oriented as they themselves are. This insistence on sameness and conformity is possibly another manifestation of neurotypical egocentricity.
Neurotypical individuals display Theory of Minds deficits. NTD sufferers are unable to abstractly theorise that others have intellectual capacity, emotions or humanity, instead NTD patients rely solely on non-verbal and verbal expressive displays and performances by others as the basis of their beliefs about the internal world of others. NTD sufferers are unable to recognise the humanity of others who do not frequently share or demonstrate social/emotional characteristics.
Egocentricity, Interpersonal Compulsion and Theory of Minds deficits account for the neurotypical patient's needs for constant reassurance and social interaction. These needs constitute a considerable drain on the resources of family members and the wider community.
Other mental disorders found to be comorbid with NTD include depression, anxiety and alcoholism. Alcoholism in this population has a 5.5% prevalence rate, based on US data, which is more than one person in 20. It is estimated that around 20% of adult females who have NTD will also suffer from clinical depression at some time in their lives (based on US data). Psychosis is a not uncommon occurrence within the NTD population, but the exact rate is unknown. Clearly this is a dangerous cluster of psychopathology.
While effective therapies exist for the comorbidities commonly found with NTD, there is no clear professional consensus or body of scientific evidence supporting any therapy, behavioural intervention, medication or cure for NTD. NTD is a highly heritable disease. If both natural parents have an NTD diagnosis, the odds are overwhelmingly high that all of their offspring will also have the disorder. Currently the best hope for the future lies in the availability of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) to screen out embryos that carry the NTD genetic defect.
Associate Professor Lili Marlene
Department of Psuedopsychology
University of Central Suburbia
Southern Aspergalia
I think this one is the best
Demosacclamare disorder (DaD). The unnecesary and unreasonable disire to seek a wide and popular support of people you do not know.
Prime examples of DaD can be found in the popular internet site, myspace.com, which is like a drug to sufferers of Demosacclamare disorder. Where a normal person may be content with the circle of friends with which they actually know and make contact with, people with Demosacclamare disorder feel the compulsion to make as many people on their 'friends list' as possible, thus earning the approval of people they don't realise exist.
Unfortunately many sufferers of DaD can be quite successful, many achieving there goal of becoming celeberities, famous sufferers include:
Herman Goring
(Needs suggestions)
My sister Rachel, totally suffers from DaD. She wants to be a famous singer, unfortunetly though..she's not exactly a size 2. You know how cruel people can be about people who are overweight, but it's like she still thinks she'll be the next Britney Spears despite what anyone says.
It isn't easy, I certainly know that, but excess weight can be lost when there is enough incentive.
Dogface, ever listened to rap music?