neurotypical

adjective

neu·​ro·​typ·​i·​cal ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈti-pi-kəl 

ˌnyu̇r-

: not affected with a disorder or condition (such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder) that impacts the way the brain processes information : exhibiting or characteristic of typical neurological development

neurotypical students

With developmental disorders, there is an added layer of confusion because people often appear neurotypical; they function well in some situations and not in others.

—Sallie Tisdale

compare neurodivergent

neurotypical noun

plural neurotypicals

They spoke about the differences in communication between autistic people and neurotypicals, and how that can impact lives.

—Katie Farthing

Examples of neurotypical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers gathered behavioral data, brain scans, and stool samples from 43 autistic children and 41 neurotypical children aged 8 to 17. —Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2025

Two autistic people equated perfect empathy, two neurotypical people equaled perfect empathy. —Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

Compared to neurotypical children, studies have shown that children with ASD struggle particularly with tasks like ball catching and motor imitation that require efficient visual-motor integration. —New Atlas, 29 Jan. 2025

Parents share personal stories of resilience—guiding neurotypical siblings to grow with empathy and advocating for more inclusive school settings. —David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

neuro- + typical

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neurotypical

• prototypical
• atypical
• untypical
• stereotypical
• typical

Medical Definition

neurotypical

adjective

neu·​ro·​typ·​i·​cal ˌn(y)u̇r-(ˌ)ȯ-ˈti-pi-kəl 

: not affected with a disorder or condition (such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder) that impacts the way the brain processes information : exhibiting or characteristic of typical neurological development

Routine disruption appeared to be among the biggest stressors of the children with autism, compared to neurotypical peers. It is possible that this stress led to other challenges during the pandemic. … While the greatest stressor in the neurotypical group was isolation from friends, it was much less of a stressor for children with autism.

—Helen M. Genova et al., Frontiers in Education

compare neurodivergent

neurotypical noun

Individuals with autism may have different emotional responses than neurotypicals to the same situations, making it harder for neurotypicals to identify the antecedent of various reactions among individuals with autism.

—Sarah Hansen, Hussman Institute for Autism