Some common and challenging signs of neurodiversity include: Social communication difficulties, such as trouble making eye contact while talking or not reading body language. Speech and language challenges, such as stuttering and repetition.
The term “neurodivergent” describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works. That means they have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don't have those differences. The possible differences include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other conditions.
“You can choose to identify yourself as neurodivergent, but you should not unilaterally assign other people the label of neurodivergent. Not all individuals with a medical diagnosis like autism or ADHD self-identify as neurodivergent. There is also no standard for a 'neurotypical brain.
In the existing body of research, it's not formally linked to anxiety yet. However, some advocates categorize anxiety as neurodivergent since it broadly defines brains functioning atypically. You can work with a therapist to help validate your experience with anxiety and other co-occurring conditions.
Neurotypicals misinterpret this as being callous, narcissistic, uncaring, or socially inept. Taken together, the vulnerability of a person with ADHD to the negative feedback of others, and the lack of ability to observe oneself in the moment, make a witch's brew.
Besides ADHD, neurodiversity commonly refers to people with: Autism spectrum disorder. Dyslexia.
Other types of neurodivergence include Tourette's, dyspraxia, synesthesia, dyscalculia, Down syndrome, epilepsy, and chronic mental health illnesses such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Neurodivergence is the state of being neurodivergent and can be genetic and innate (such as autism) or produced by experiences (such as trauma).
The choice of when to disclose a disability or neurodiversity is personal and will depend on where you are in your life, your previous experiences, and what you're trying to achieve. No one can or should tell you what to do.
Through a neurodiversity lens, such conditions reflect different ways of being that are all normal human experiences. Although “neurodiversity” is usually used to describe a group of neurodivergent individuals, it also refers to all of humankind because everyone has a unique way of processing information.
Whilst statistics vary, scientists suggest between 15-20% of us show some form of neurodivergence – and that many of us don't even realise we are neurodivergent! Katie Bilbrough is a Qualifying member of CIEEM who was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was 18.
Many people who are neurodivergent have higher-than-average abilities—for example in pattern recognition, visual-spatial thinking, memory, or mathematics.
ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Tourette's syndrome are all examples of neurodiverse conditions. They're diagnostic labels used to explain the diverse ways of thinking, learning, processing and behaving.
Classical definitions of neurodivergence include diagnoses of autism, ADHD and dyslexia. However, embracing neurodiversity means going beyond medical definitions by recognizing the whole person. Neurodivergence is not the same as disability or mental illness, but it can be associated with them.
PTSD is also considered a form of neurodivergence. However, this is an acquired neurodivergence (meaning it is situational and can be resolved through treatment). At this point, the person may return to their neurotypical baseline.
Children usually grow up
There were very few services for any adults at all across any neurodevelopmental conditions. Increasingly, there are greater numbers of people being diagnosed as neurodivergent over 40 years and of course some now in their 50s and 60s who have also grown up with a diagnosis.
OCD is viewed as neurodiverse in origin because it satisfies the primary criteria of a neurodivergent disorder – people with OCD have a brain that processes and behaves differently from what is considered typical.
It refers to any individual who deals with irrational anxiety in social situations or through different interactions. Neurodivergent people often get labeled as “socially anxious,” though it's even more common that they get mislabeled as shy.
Neurodivergent people might include those with ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, Tourette syndrome, or synesthesia. The neurodivergent movement seeks to destigmatize neurodivergent people and help them cope in a world that focuses on the neurotypical (people who process information in the “normal” way).
What is the most common type of neurodiversity? Among adults, dyslexia is the most common type of neurodivergent condition. Approximately 10% of adults are diagnosed with dyslexia. Around 4-5% of the population has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Many people with ADHD (Inattentive subtype and hyperactive subtype) find their brains work faster than people who don't have ADHD. Your non–linear way of thinking means you can problem solve, catch on to new ideas and have high speed conversations in a way that non–ADHDers just can't.