Decode “Autismcore” and More: A Guide to the Latest Terminology (inspired by Love on the Spectrum)

Gina Britt
Jul 30
4 min read

Updated: Oct 13

As a speech therapist for over 14 years, I have to stay up to date on the terminology! If you are anything like me, you have been binge watching Love On The Spectrum and found yourself pondering about different"autismcore" (a new way to describe themed vocabulary words.

In this post you will learn about Gestalt learning, synesthesia, Autism levels and other vocabulary terms so you can stay in the loop!

This post is all about autismcore.

Autismcore:

Autismcore is a word people use online—especially on Pinterest and TikTok—to describe an aesthetic or vibe that feels comforting or relatable to some people with autism. It often includes soft textures, special interests, calming colors, and nostalgic images. It’s not a medical term—just a creative way of expressing identity and community.

Gestalt learner:

Gestalt learning (also called gestalt language processing) is a way that some children—especially autistic children—learn to speak. Instead of learning one word at a time, they learn and remember whole phrases or scripts. Think of it like hearing a full sentence, memorizing it, and repeating it later to communicate.

This style of learning is not a disorder—it’s just a different way the brain understands language.

📢 How Gestalt Learners Communicate

Here are some common signs of gestalt learning:

✅ Memorized phrases: Instead of saying one word like “juice,” a child might say a whole sentence like “I want some juice now,” because they heard it that way before.
✅ Echolalia: This means repeating phrases they’ve heard before—like from a parent, a teacher, or a favorite TV show.
✅ Movie and show scripts: Some children repeat lines from their favorite characters. This isn’t just play—it can be a way to communicate feelings or needs.
✅ Chunking: Gestalt learners think in big “chunks” of language, rather than one word at a time.
✅ Creating new phrases: As they grow, these learners start to break apart and mix up chunks to create their own sentences. This is a sign of language development and flexibility.

Synesthesia:

Synesthesia (pronounced sin-ess-THEE-zha) is when the brain blends the senses in unusual and automatic ways. For someone with synesthesia, one sense—like hearing or sight—triggers a second sense involuntarily.

Example: A person hears music and sees colors. Or reads a word and tastes a specific flavor. Or sees a number and feels a texture. These connections are real and consistent for the person experiencing them. If the letter "A" is red to them once, it's always red.

Autism Levels:

In a clinical setting, autism is sometimes described in “levels” based on how much support a person needs:

Level 1 means a person may need some support (often called “mild” autism).
Level 2 means they need more consistent support.
Level 3 means they need a lot of support in daily life.

These levels aren’t perfect, and every autistic person is different—so it’s more helpful to ask what kind of support someone needs, rather than focusing just on a number.

Scripting:

Scripting is often part of the autismcore aesthetic. Scripting refers to repeating words, phrases, or lines from movies, shows, books, or real-life conversations.

People with autism might use scripting to practice language, express emotions, or communicate in familiar ways. It’s a valid form of communication, not something to “fix.”

Stimming:

Stimming is short for “self-stimulatory behavior.” It includes things like hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, tapping, or repeating words. People stim to calm themselves, feel happy, or manage sensory input- it's a part of autismcore.

However, everyone stims in some way—like bouncing your leg when nervous, biting your fingernails or picking at split ends.

Sensory overload:

Sensory overload happens when a person’s brain gets overwhelmed by too much input at once—like loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, or too many people talking. There is an inability to distinguish far away sounds from closer sounds. It can feel confusing, scary, or even painful.

Creating calm spaces or using tools like headphones or sunglasses can help.

For a unique experience that represents sensory overload grab a pair of headphones and listen to this video:

Autistic Meltdown:

A meltdown is not a tantrum—it’s a response to extreme stress, sensory overload, or frustration. When someone has a meltdown, they might cry, scream, shut down, or lose control of their body. It’s not on purpose.

The best response is calm, patience, and support.

Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy ABA:

This is a therapy approach, breaking down tasks into small steps and using reinforcements that can be used to improve language and/or behavior.

The theory is controversial because it is heavily prompt dependent and one of the prompts is hand-over-hand.

Echolalia

Echolalia is the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds that someone has heard, either immediately or after a delay. It's a common way some individuals process language, communicate, or self-regulate.

Special Interests

Special interests are intense, focused passions that often bring joy, comfort, and deep knowledge to autistic individuals. These interests can range from trains to languages to specific TV shows, and they often serve as a meaningful way to connect with the world.