(Verb) Similar to mansplaining, describes the act of a neurotypical person explaining a topic or special interest back to an Autistic person, often without realizing that the Autistic person is already deeply knowledgeable or even an expert on the subject. This can come across as condescending or dismissive, as it overlooks the Autistic person's expertise and passion for the topic. Colloquially it has also been used to describe when neurotypical people explain neurodivergents’ hyperfixations to them more generally (ie someone with ADHD).
The term is used humorously or critically within the autistic and neurodivergent community more generally to highlight the disconnect in cultural expectations between neurotypical and neurodivergent people.
The term is used humorously or critically within the autistic and neurodivergent community more generally to highlight the disconnect in cultural expectations between neurotypical and neurodivergent people.
Despite knowing my special interest in astronomy, my coworker couldn’t resist autisplaining basic facts about black holes to me during lunch after going to the science museum for the first time since elementary school.
by AuDHDnugget September 05, 2024
