The word “neurotypical” describes someone who thinks and processes information in ways that are typical within their culture. They tend to learn skills and reach developmental milestones around the same time as their peers.
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.
Neurodiversity is “the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one 'right' way of thinking, learning and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits,” according to Harvard Health.
Because neurotypicals are generally able to read body language and tone, and because of the tension between the desire to say what you feel and the desire to avoid getting punched in the nose, complex ways of communicating have developed that include saying one thing but meaning another.
Additionally, some evidence suggests that autistics may think in more concrete terms than others and struggle when it comes to abstract thinking. For example, they may find humor confusing or even offensive due to difficulty understanding concepts such as irony and sarcasm.
Non-autistic people tend to assess concepts before details, also known as top-down thinking. Autistic people take the opposite approach with bottom-up thinking and use details to build concepts. It may take longer to filter out sensory details with this approach, but you're less likely to miss important information.
Therefore, it appears that while some individuals may be aware they are autistic, others may not fully understand why they have difficulties connecting with people socially or engaging in conversation - yet still realize they are 'different.
Compared to hyperfocus, hyperfixation is more likely to occur in people with autism or ADHD. However, it is still possible for neurotypical individuals to become hyper-fixated on topics and interests.
tantrums and meltdowns can both occur in neurotypical children AND in neurodivergent children. An Autistic, anxious or SPD child can have a “plain vanilla” tantrum”, just as much as a neurotypical child can experience a sensory overload meltdown.
Most people are neurotypical, meaning that the brain functions and processes information in the way society expects. However it is estimated that around 1 in 7 people (more than 15% of people in the UK) are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently.
“With this definition, anxiety can be considered a form of neurodivergence, although it may not be as commonly recognized as ADHD, autism, or trauma,” she says. Many people utilize self-identification to categorize themselves as being neurodivergent, explains Claney.
Neurotypical people are primarily motivated by importance, rewards, and consequences. When a neurotypical brain knows something is important (either to them or someone else), it moves toward the top of their list. Same with large rewards or consequences.
Sensory overload can happen to anyone, but it is more common in autistic people and people with ADHD, PTSD, and certain other conditions. It causes feelings of discomfort and being overwhelmed. Moving away from sources of sensory input, such as loud sounds or strong smells, can reduce these feelings.
Some neurotypical people may occasionally experience a hyperfocus-like state. However, it occurs more often in people with conditions that reflect attention issues, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Act all 'pally' with people when you are with them, just to keep up appearances. Start a task as soon as you are set the task. Move swiftly between tasks. If someone distracts you, get straight back on with it.
Results: It was more common for perceivers to “like” neurotypical than autistic targets. The number of “likes” each target received correlated highly with perceiver ratings of target social favorability. Perceivers cited perceived awkwardness and lack of empathy as being reasons for deciding they disliked targets.
Intense emotions and hyperfocus
When teens with ADHD fall in love, the good — and bad — feelings that come with it can be even more intense and more disruptive. New relationships or crushes are exciting and (mostly) enjoyable. But for kids with ADHD, that excitement and enjoyment can sometimes go too far.
There are a smaller number of people with autism who are described as socially active but odd. At times, they may be described by others as having no social filter or being socially inappropriate and rude. Unfortunately, this pattern can also get in the way of socializing and developing lasting friendships.
There are other brain disorders that mimic autism symptoms, like ADHD and anxiety disorders, including selective mutism. Autism can be misdiagnosed as another disorder with some shared symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
Reasoning in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been characterised as being slower and more effortful than controls. People with ASD show a more circumscribed reasoning bias, and often take longer to make decisions.
While there is no universal definition of "high-functioning autism," it remains an important distinction: ASD can otherwise be missed if a person doesn't have overt signs and symptoms, such as difficulty with communication, inappropriate social interactions, and repetitive or obsessive behaviors.
A few different factors converge to explain why autistic people have an “overly full head” and disorganized thoughts, as well as why we may be scatterbrained, quick to lose oversight, and more prone to overstimulation and dysregulation. All these factors are likely caused by overconnectivity in the brain.