Category Reference

Every category, every level, every modifier. Read through to understand the code, or just browse to see if you recognize yourself somewhere.

Universal Modifiers

These can be applied to any category.

@ Context-dependent.

This changes depending on the situation.

() Cross-over range.

Shows your range. M++(---) means you usually mask heavily but sometimes don't at all.

> Trending toward.

Moving in a direction. M+++>- means heavy masker, working on unmasking.

? Uncertain.

Still figuring this one out.

! Refuse to disclose.

This dimension is not your business.

Categories

Sensory

Ss Sensory: Sound

How you relate to auditory input. This is about sensitivity and reactivity, not preference.

* Sensory-seeking

+++

Hypersensitive

I have left buildings because of sounds other people cannot hear. The fluorescent lights have a pitch. The refrigerator has opinions. I own stock in headphone companies.

Very sensitive

Background noise in restaurants makes conversation nearly impossible. I need to recover after loud environments. I always know where the exits are - acoustically.

Somewhat sensitive

Certain sounds bother me more than seems reasonable. I notice things others filter out. Open-plan offices are not my friend.

Neutral

Sound is sound. I notice some things, miss others. This is not a defining dimension for me.

Somewhat unbothered

I can tune out most noise without much effort. Loud environments are fine. I occasionally miss someone calling my name.

Very unbothered

I can sleep through almost anything. People wonder how I concentrate with all this noise. What noise?

---

Hyposensitive

I genuinely do not register most ambient sound. Fire alarms have surprised me. I am probably wearing headphones right now and forgot about it.

Sl Sensory: Light

How you relate to visual input - brightness, flicker, patterns, visual clutter.

* Sensory-seeking

+++

Hypersensitive

Sunglasses indoors is not an affectation. Fluorescent lighting is a hostage situation. I can see the 60Hz flicker and no one believes me.

Very sensitive

Bright environments drain me fast. I have strong opinions about screen brightness settings. Overhead lighting is rarely acceptable.

Somewhat sensitive

I prefer dim environments and notice flicker that others don't. Big box stores are a lot.

Neutral

Light is light. Not a major factor in my daily experience.

Somewhat unbothered

Most lighting conditions are fine. I don't think much about it.

Very unbothered

I can work under any lighting without noticing. People close the blinds and I wonder why.

---

Hyposensitive

I sometimes forget to turn on lights when it gets dark. People visit my office and ask how I can see.

St Sensory: Touch

How you relate to physical contact - being touched by people, pressure, proximity. Not about fabric or surfaces; that is texture.

* Sensory-seeking

+++

Hypersensitive

Unexpected touch from another person can ruin an hour. A hand on my shoulder from behind is a system crash. I flinch before I decide to flinch.

Very sensitive

Light touch is worse than firm pressure. Hugs require advance notice. I have a small list of people who are allowed to touch me without warning.

Somewhat sensitive

I have preferences about physical contact that seem strong to others. Handshakes are fine; casual arm-touching in conversation is not.

Neutral

Physical contact is not a significant part of my experience. Some touch is welcome, some isn't, but it doesn't drive decisions.

Somewhat unbothered

Most physical contact is fine. I don't think about it much. Hugs are neither sought nor avoided.

Very unbothered

I barely register casual touch. People bump into me on the bus and I forget about it instantly.

---

Hyposensitive

I sometimes don't notice someone tapping my shoulder, or that the shower is scalding. My body's contact notifications are on silent.

Sx Sensory: Texture

How you relate to surface textures and materials - clothing, fabrics, surfaces against your skin. Not about people touching you; that is touch.

* Sensory-seeking

+++

Hypersensitive

I have thrown away otherwise fine clothing because of a seam. Tags are an act of aggression. I own multiples of the one acceptable shirt.

Very sensitive

Fabric matters enormously. I have a narrow range of acceptable textures. I can tell the thread count by touching a pillowcase. This is not a party trick.

Somewhat sensitive

Some textures bother me. I notice the material of a chair before I sit in it. I have returned clothing after discovering the fabric was wrong.

Neutral

Texture is not a significant part of my experience. Some things feel nicer than others, but it doesn't drive decisions.

Somewhat unbothered

Most textures are fine. I don't think about fabric choices much. Clothing is chosen by other criteria.

Very unbothered

I barely notice textures. I'd wear sandpaper if it was the right color.

---

Hyposensitive

I genuinely cannot tell the difference between cotton and polyester by feel. I sometimes don't notice I'm still wearing yesterday's socks. Fabric is fabric.

Sf Sensory: Food/Taste

How you relate to food - texture, taste, variety, the whole complicated business of eating.

* Sensory-seeking

+++

Very restricted

I have a short list of safe foods and it has not changed in years. Trying new food is not an adventure, it is a negotiation with my nervous system. Yes, I know what I'm missing. No, I cannot just try it.

Quite restricted

Texture is usually the issue. I can eat a wider range than some, but mixed textures are a problem and certain foods are simply not going to happen. I order the same thing at restaurants.

Somewhat selective

I'm pickier than average and have some definite no-go foods, but I can navigate most menus. I probably won't eat your home cooking without warning, though.

Neutral

Food is not a major axis for me. I eat a reasonably varied diet without much drama.

Fairly flexible

I'll try most things. Food is fuel and I don't think about it much. I might forget to eat entirely.

Very flexible

I will eat nearly anything put in front of me. I genuinely don't understand food aversions - which I recognize is its own kind of atypical.

---

Indifferent

Food is a chore. I would take a nutritionally complete pill over cooking any day. I have eaten the same lunch for months without noticing.

So Sensory: Smell

How you relate to olfactory input. Perfume counters: gateway or gauntlet?

* Sensory-seeking

+++

Hypersensitive

I can identify people by their laundry detergent. Perfume sections in stores are a biohazard. I have asked strangers to move because of their cologne.

Very sensitive

Strong smells can trigger headaches or nausea. I notice when someone three rooms away is microwaving fish. Scented candles are not a gift, they are a declaration of war.

Somewhat sensitive

I notice smells others miss and some bother me disproportionately. I have opinions about cleaning products.

Neutral

Smell is not a significant dimension for me. Some things smell nice, some don't.

Somewhat unbothered

Most smells don't register much. People point out smells and I shrug.

Very unbothered

I regularly fail to notice strong odors. The milk could be off and I wouldn't know until I tasted it.

---

Hyposensitive

My sense of smell is essentially decorative. I have been near genuinely bad smells and not noticed until someone else reacted.

Pn Interoception

Your ability to sense internal body states - hunger, thirst, pain, temperature, needing the bathroom. The sense nobody talks about.

+++

High awareness

I notice subtle internal signals clearly. I know when I'm getting hungry before it's urgent. I can tell the difference between anxiety and excitement in my body.

Good awareness

I generally know what my body needs. Some signals are clearer than others but I'm tuned in.

Moderate awareness

Some body signals I catch, some I miss. I might not notice I'm thirsty until I'm very thirsty.

Variable

My interoceptive awareness comes and goes. Sometimes I'm attuned to my body, sometimes I forget I have one.

Reduced awareness

I regularly miss internal signals. "When did you last eat?" is a question I struggle to answer. Pain sometimes registers late.

Poor awareness

I frequently don't notice hunger, thirst, or temperature until it's extreme. I have gone an entire day without eating and only noticed when I got dizzy.

---

Very poor awareness

My body sends emails and I don't check that inbox. I've been injured and not noticed. I rely on schedules and timers for basic needs because my body won't tell me.

Social

M Masking

How much energy goes into performing neurotypicality. Not whether you can pass - whether you do, and at what cost.

$ Professional masker

+++

Heavy masker

I have a full-time social persona that most people have never seen behind. The mask is good - so good that when I mention being autistic, people don't believe me. This is not the compliment they think it is.

Frequent masker

I mask in most social situations. I have a script for small talk, a practiced laugh, a calibrated amount of eye contact. Few people get the unmasked version.

Situational masker

I mask when I need to - work, new people, high-stakes situations. With trusted people, I let it drop. The switching itself is tiring.

Mixed

Some masking, some not. It depends on the day and the context. I'm still figuring out which parts are mask and which are me.

Mostly unmasked

I've dropped most of the mask, by choice or by burnout. People get the real version most of the time. Some of them wish they didn't.

Rarely masks

I don't have much of a mask left. What you see is what you get. This is partly liberation and partly that I never had the energy for it.

---

Does not mask

I have never successfully masked, or I stopped entirely a long time ago. My autism is visible and I have made my peace with that.

SE Social Energy

The size of your social battery and how fast it drains. Not whether you like people - whether being around them costs energy.

+++

Large battery

I can handle extended social situations without significant drain. I might even enjoy a party. (I know, I'm surprised too.)

Good capacity

I can manage a full social day with some recovery time after. Work meetings are fine; work meetings plus dinner is pushing it.

Moderate capacity

A few hours of socializing and I need to recharge. I budget social energy like a finite resource, because it is.

Average

Some social situations drain me, others don't. It depends heavily on the people and context.

Limited capacity

Social interaction is expensive. I need significant alone time to recover from even enjoyable social events. My calendar has recovery blocks.

Small battery

A single social event can use up my reserves for days. I have cancelled plans not because I didn't want to go, but because I couldn't afford to.

---

Very small battery

Most social interaction costs more than I have. A trip to the grocery store counts as socializing. I am not antisocial - I am energy-bankrupt.

Communication

Cv Communication: Verbal

Your facility with spoken language. Not intelligence - verbal output. Many brilliant people struggle to speak and many fluent speakers struggle to think.

+++

Highly verbal

I talk. A lot. Once I start on a topic I know, the challenge is stopping. I have been told I am "articulate" which is code for "we didn't expect you to be."

Verbally fluent

Speaking comes fairly naturally to me, especially about topics I care about. I can handle meetings and presentations without too much strain.

Capable but effortful

I can speak fine, but it takes more conscious effort than people realize. I often rehearse conversations beforehand. Spontaneous speech is harder.

Context-dependent

Some situations I'm fluent, others I struggle. The gap between my best and worst verbal days is wider than most people's.

Limited verbal

Speaking is consistently effortful. I lose words, get stuck, say things out of order. Written communication is noticeably better.

Mostly non-speaking

I speak when I have to, but it's unreliable. Under stress, speech goes first. I rely heavily on text, AAC, or other alternatives.

---

Non-speaking / selective

Speech is not my primary communication method and may not be available at all. This says nothing about what I think or understand.

Ct Communication: Text

How much you prefer text-based communication over voice. Not about typing speed - about where you think most clearly.

+++

Strongly prefers text

If you call me, I will stare at the phone until it stops ringing and then text you "what's up?" Text is where I am most myself. Do not leave me a voicemail.

Prefers text

Text over calls, always. I compose better in writing. I will send a detailed message rather than have a five-minute phone call.

Slight text preference

I'd rather text for most things, but I can handle calls when needed. I just won't enjoy it.

No preference

Either mode works. I switch between them without strong feelings.

Slight voice preference

I'd rather just talk. Typing out long messages feels like overhead when I could say it in thirty seconds.

Prefers voice

I think best out loud and prefer real-time conversation. Text feels slow and ambiguous.

---

Strongly prefers voice/presence

Text communication is frustrating and I avoid it. I need tone, pacing, the full human signal. Emoji do not compensate.

Cl Communication: Literal

How literally you process language. Idioms, sarcasm, subtext, "reading between the lines" - how much of that lands automatically?

+++

Very literal

I process language at face value first, always. Sarcasm requires a beat to decode. "We should get together sometime" - ok, when? I have learned to pause before responding to check for subtext. I do not always find it.

Quite literal

I miss implied meanings regularly. Idioms sometimes catch me off guard even when I know them. I prefer people say what they mean.

Somewhat literal

I can read subtext but it takes effort. I occasionally take things literally that weren't meant that way. I prefer direct communication.

Mixed

Sometimes I catch subtext, sometimes I miss it. Depends on context, topic, and how tired I am.

Reads subtext fairly well

I pick up on most implied meanings. I still prefer directness, but I can navigate indirect communication.

Good at subtext

I read between the lines naturally. Sarcasm, irony, implication - these land without much delay.

---

Fluent in subtext

I process implied meaning as easily as literal meaning. My autism shows up in other ways, not this one.

Neurotype

SI Special Interests

The intensity and pattern of your deep interests. Not hobbies - the thing that organizes your inner life.

@ Cycling interests $ Interest became career

+++

All-consuming

I have been deeply invested in the same topic for years. I can talk about it for hours without noticing. I have forgotten to eat because of it. It is not a hobby, it is a load-bearing wall of my identity.

Very intense

My interests are deep and focused. I research obsessively, acquire everything related to them, and think about them when I should be thinking about other things.

Noticeable intensity

I have interests that are clearly stronger than "hobbies." I know more about certain topics than is socially expected and sometimes have to stop myself from monologuing.

Moderate

I have interests I care about, but they don't dominate my life. The line between "interest" and "special interest" is blurry for me.

Mild

I have things I like, but nothing that feels all-consuming. I sometimes wonder if I have special interests at all, or if they're just... interests.

Diffuse

I'm a generalist. I dabble in many things but rarely go deep. My autism shows up elsewhere.

---

Not a feature

Intense focused interests are not part of my autistic experience. I relate to other dimensions more.

R Routine/Structure

How much you depend on predictability and structure. Not preference - need.

+++

Needs strong routine

If my morning routine is disrupted, the rest of the day is compromised. I eat the same breakfast every day and it is not boring, it is correct. Surprises are not delightful, they are expensive.

Needs routine

I function best with predictable structure. Changes to plans cause real distress, not just annoyance. I plan my weeks in detail.

Prefers routine

I like knowing what's coming. Unexpected changes are manageable but cost energy. I have routines I didn't realize were routines until someone disrupted them.

Moderate

I like some structure and some flexibility. Not a defining dimension.

Fairly flexible

I can adapt to changes without too much difficulty. I have some routines but I'm not dependent on them.

Very flexible

I actually get bored with too much routine. I can pivot plans easily. This surprises people when they learn I'm autistic.

---

Thrives on variety

Structure feels constraining. I work best with some chaos. Yes, I'm autistic. No, I don't need a schedule. The spectrum is wide.

EF Executive Function

Your capacity for planning, initiating tasks, switching contexts, and managing time. The invisible infrastructure of getting things done.

+++

Strong EF

I am organized, self-directed, and good at planning. I can switch between tasks without losing my place. People ask me how I get so much done. (The secret is usually that it's a special interest.)

Good EF

I generally manage tasks and time well, with some systems in place to help. I can plan ahead and follow through most of the time.

Adequate EF

I manage, but it takes more scaffolding than people realize. Lists, reminders, routines - the infrastructure is there because without it, things fall apart.

Uneven EF

Some executive functions work fine, others don't. I can plan but not start. I can start but not finish. The inconsistency is the consistent part.

Challenged EF

Task initiation is a real problem. I know what I need to do. I can see it. I cannot make myself start. Time blindness is a frequent companion.

Significant EF challenges

Without external structure, very little gets done. Context-switching costs me half an hour minimum. I have systems for my systems and they still fail.

---

Severe EF challenges

Executive function is a daily barrier. Basic tasks like showering, eating on time, or responding to messages can require enormous effort. This is not laziness. This is a wiring difference.

Sm Stimming

Self-stimulatory behavior - the movements, sounds, or sensory inputs you use to regulate. Everyone stims. This is about how much it's part of your daily life.

* Suppresses stims

+++

Frequent and visible

I stim openly and often. Hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, vocal stims - these are how I regulate and I am not interested in hiding them anymore.

Regular

I stim throughout the day. Some stims are visible, some are subtle. I've learned which ones are "socially acceptable" and which ones get looks.

Moderate

I stim noticeably but not constantly. Pen clicking, leg bouncing, fidget toys. Things that pass as "fidgeting" in neurotypical spaces.

Some

I stim sometimes, usually without thinking about it. It's part of my life but not a defining feature.

Subtle

My stims are small and mostly internal - tongue pressing, toe curling, mental patterns. You wouldn't notice unless I told you.

Rare

I don't stim much. Occasionally under stress. This is not necessarily healthy - it might mean I've suppressed them so long I've lost track.

---

Not a feature

Stimming is not a significant part of my experience. My regulatory mechanisms look different.

B Burnout/Energy

Your overall energy capacity and resilience to autistic burnout - the deep, pervasive exhaustion that goes beyond being tired.

+++

High capacity

I have good energy reserves and recover quickly from demanding situations. Burnout is something I've read about but not experienced severely. (Yet. I know enough to add "yet.")

Good capacity

I manage my energy well enough to avoid major burnout most of the time. I know my limits and respect them, usually.

Adequate

I can maintain a normal-looking life but there's not much margin. A bad week can set me back for a while.

Variable

My energy capacity fluctuates a lot. Some periods I'm fine, others I'm running on fumes. The pattern is hard to predict.

Limited

I burn out faster than my life demands. I've had to reduce commitments. The gap between what I want to do and what I can do is constant.

Easily depleted

My capacity is significantly below what's expected. I've experienced major burnout episodes. Recovery takes months, not days.

---

Very low capacity

I am in or recovering from severe burnout. Basic functioning takes everything I have. This is not a character flaw, it's a nervous system that has been running beyond its capacity for too long.

Sn Support Needs

How much external support, accommodation, or help you need to navigate daily life. Not a judgment of capability - a practical description of what it actually takes. This is not "functioning." This is the gap between what the world demands and what your nervous system can deliver unaided.

+++

Mostly independent

I navigate daily life without much external support. I manage my own schedule, logistics, and living situation. The occasional rough patch, but the infrastructure holds. People sometimes forget I'm autistic, which means they also forget I might need help.

Independent with accommodations

I live independently, but with specific accommodations that are non-negotiable. Noise-cancelling headphones, a structured routine, the right living environment. Remove the accommodations and the independence unravels faster than people expect.

Some support needed

I manage most things but certain areas consistently require help - maybe appointments, phone calls, navigating bureaucracy, remembering to eat. I have workarounds for my workarounds.

Moderate support

I need regular support in several areas of daily life. Not constant, but more than "a bit of help here and there." The gap between what I can do on a good day and what I can sustain is the whole story.

Significant support

Daily life requires substantial help. I can do some things independently, but I rely on people or services for many basics. The world is not set up for how I operate and the accommodations are not optional extras.

High support needs

I need extensive daily support across multiple areas - personal care, communication, navigating environments, managing tasks. Independence exists in specific domains, not as a general state.

---

Very high support needs

I require comprehensive, ongoing support in most areas of daily life. This is not a limitation of will or intelligence. It is what my nervous system requires, and pretending otherwise helps no one.

AD ADHD Co-occurrence

The autism-ADHD overlap is so common it nearly deserves its own category. If you're here, you probably know.

+++

Strong ADHD traits

The AuDHD experience in full. My brain wants routine AND novelty, structure AND chaos, hyperfocus AND distraction - simultaneously. It's a lot.

Significant ADHD traits

ADHD is clearly part of my picture. Impulsivity and inattention coexist with autistic rigidity in ways that confuse everyone, including me.

Some ADHD traits

There's overlap. I see myself in ADHD descriptions sometimes but it's not the dominant picture.

Uncertain

I honestly can't tell where autism ends and ADHD might begin. The Venn diagram is a circle.

Minimal ADHD traits

I don't strongly identify with ADHD descriptions. My attention issues look more autistic than ADHD.

Few ADHD traits

ADHD doesn't resonate with my experience. I'm pretty solidly in the autism-only camp.

---

No ADHD traits

The ADHD descriptions do not apply to me. My neurotype is autism without the ADHD seasoning.

Identity & Context

Dx Diagnosis Path

How you came to know you're autistic. Every path is valid. The destination is the same.

Formally diagnosed

Received a clinical diagnosis through professional evaluation.

Self-identified

Recognized your autism through research, community, or lived experience. Not everyone has access to (or needs) a formal assessment.

Pursuing diagnosis

In the process of seeking formal evaluation. Waitlists are a special interest nobody asked for.

Late diagnosed

Identified as autistic in adulthood. The "oh, that explains... everything" experience.

Childhood diagnosis

Identified early. Grew up knowing, for better or worse.

Re-diagnosed

Previously carried a different label - Asperger's, PDD-NOS, "gifted," "difficult," "just shy." The taxonomy changed; you didn't.

Questioning

Still figuring it out. That's fine. Take your time.

SM Dysregulation Style

What happens when your system is overwhelmed. Not a choice - a pattern.

Shutdown

When overwhelmed, you go inward. Speech stops, movement slows, the world gets far away. You look calm from the outside. You are not calm.

Meltdown

When overwhelmed, it comes out. Tears, anger, stimming intensifies, sensory overload peaks. It is not a tantrum. It is a nervous system that has exceeded capacity.

Both

You experience shutdowns and meltdowns, sometimes in sequence. The fun combo platter.

Internalizer

Your dysregulation is invisible to others. You look fine. You are managing a five-alarm fire internally.

Externalizer

Your dysregulation is visible. People can tell when you're overwhelmed. This is sometimes easier (people accommodate) and sometimes harder (people judge).

CI Community Identity

How you relate to autistic identity and community. Language and belonging are personal.

Identity-first

I say "autistic person." Autism is part of who I am, not something I "have." Like being left-handed, not like having a cold.

Person-first

I say "person with autism." I am more than my diagnosis. Both framings are valid.

Not community-identified

I don't particularly identify with the autistic community. It's part of my neurology, not my social identity.

Active advocate

I am actively involved in autistic advocacy, community building, or education.

Ag Age at Self-Recognition

The age you first thought "wait... am I autistic?" Not diagnosis - recognition. Use a number.

:<10

Childhood

You knew early, even if the adults didn't.

:10s

Teens

Adolescence brought the realization, along with everything else.

:20s

Twenties

Young adulthood. Often after leaving home revealed patterns.

:30s

Thirties

A common window. Often triggered by burnout, parenthood, or a child's diagnosis.

:40s

Forties

Midlife reckoning. All those years suddenly reframe.

:50+

Fifty or later

A lifetime of wondering, finally answered.