Search the internet for information on neurodiversity and there is an almost overwhelming amount of information. Ask someone you know to tell you about it and chances are, you will hear at least one common misunderstanding. (“We are all a little bit on the spectrum.” Well, no, we aren’t. You are either autistic or you aren’t). You are also highly likely to hear their opinion about it all even if you don’t particularly want it. Having worked with countless clients with neurodiversity, read many books on the subject, and coming from a pretty neurodiverse family myself, I’m here to try my best to cut through all the noise and simplify it as much as I can for you.
What does it even mean?
Neurotypical means that your brain is wired and works in the way it’s generally expected to by society. Much of the modern world is designed around and set up in a way that suits these types of brain.
Neurodiverse means that your brain is wired in a different way than is generally expected, which means that the world isn’t designed to suit your type of brain, so you have to adapt more to everyday life. There are many different types of Neurodiversity so I'm limiting this blog to the ones being most spoken about today.
ADHD/ADD
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which broadly means having difficulties surrounding attention and hyperactivity, and ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder, which simply means difficulties with attention, but without the hyperactivity.
What are the main symptoms?
A lack of impulse control.
Not being able to listen to others for long and interrupting a lot.
Executive disfunction (wanting to do something but not being able to actually follow through and do it).
Hyper focus (obsessive attention) on one thing, becoming bored and switching to something else.
Perfectionism.
Feeling overwhelmed by keeping up with texts and struggling to reply.
Tripping up when walking and a lack of spatial awareness (often covered in bruises).
Sleeping problems.
Starting projects but not being able to finish them.
Having a house full of clutter but knowing where everything is.
Putting off a necessary but boring task for an unnecessary but interesting one.
Rejection sensitivity (being on high alert for rejection and finding it particularly stressful).
Time blindness (not being able to judge how long something will take, being late for things, and falling into ‘waiting mode’ before a late appointment).
Struggling to keep up with basic daily needs such as cleaning teeth.
Mood dysregulation (difficulty controlling emotions and reactions).
Autism/ASC
ASC stands for Autism Spectrum Condition. (Previously known as ASD). A spectrum means that some people who have Autism are affected more severely than others, ranging from those who don’t speak and can’t join in with many aspects of society, and those who lead fairly regular lives and who may never even realise they have it.
What are the main symptoms?
Difficulty in social situations (little eye contact, difficulty making friends).
Over or under sensitivity to light, sound, touch or taste.
Difficulty in understanding and labelling emotions.
A tendency to have a special interest and become somewhat obsessive with it.
Trouble with changes in routine and transitions.
Sleep problems.
Stimming (repetitive movements or sound in order to self soothe).
Feeling overwhelmed in new places and situations.
Thinking very literally and logically.
A low tolerance of having demands placed on them by others or by life in general.
It’s important to point out that one of the most frustrating myths about ASC is that one of the main symptoms is a lack of empathy. All of the autistic people I know are incredibly caring and empathetic. It’s pretty understandable that they can’t empathise with what it’s like to see the world with a different kind of brain though. Can you?
Where does neurodiversity come from?
It’s not yet possible to see neurodiversity on a brain scan or to detect through medical testing. Scientists have found several possible links but nothing that is definitive. It’s widely believed there is a heredity cause as it runs in families. Its cause is a natural one though and it does NOT come from vaccines, food or the environment.
Why does it seem like everyone suddenly has it?
Over the past few years, it may feel like more and more people have been diagnosed with or felt an affiliation with ADHD and ASC. It has led to many people feeling skeptical and thinking it’s a case of others simply jumping on the bandwagon. However, there are actually many simple reasons why this is.
In the 80s and 90s, the trend of diagnosing ‘naughty boys with ADHD’ was rampant, but as with most things, the diagnosis was mainly based on tests and experiments on men. Girls often suffered in silence as they were completely flying under the radar. It is only recently that the true symptoms that women face have been more widely recognised and shared, sending many women to the GP in relief as they finally understand why they are struggling. Years of shame, trying to fit in, and desperately finding ways of coping in a neurotypical world means that most have been masking their symptoms from people around them.
In 2018, the NHS introduced ‘Right To Choose’ which has given people the legal right to be referred to a provider of their choice. This is positive as it means that being referred for neurodiversity assessments has become much easier, although it has in turn caused extremely long waiting lists of course.
Finally, where do people go when they have revelations about their lives? Social media today is packed with people describing symptoms, sharing resources, ideas and tips, and making funny videos all about this very subject. There have always been the same number of people with ADHD or ASC in the world, but modern technology has just given us many more ways to hear about it.
Do you need a label?
One of the most hotly debated topics when it comes to neurodiversity is whether or not it is simply a ‘label,’ and whether being diagnosed is a useful thing or actually more of a hindrance. Although it’s a very personal choice whether you do choose to pursue an official diagnosis or not, I can give some reasons why some might choose to, and some may not. Generally speaking, you can look at any label as a care label, helping both you and the people in your life understand you and what would help you the most. Just as I would wash a towel in hot water but not a wool jumper, I would encourage a neurotypical client to focus on their feelings but I wouldn’t expect the same when working with someone with ASC. When working with couples, I would suggest very different strategies for a neurotypical couple arguing over daily chores as I would for a
couple where one of the individuals has ADHD. I would also help their partner work out what was likely to change and what wouldn’t necessarily be possible.
Importantly, if you already feel different, having that difference validated and explained can be life changing and help eradicate the sense of isolation. It can also lead to requesting and receiving vital reasonable adjustments at school and work such as altered working hours, assignment extensions and better exam conditions.
However, it’s really important to understand that even official diagnoses are subjective. The DSM (official guide for assessors) itself has changed its diagnostic criteria for ASC several times, meaning someone who may have been diagnosed in one year, wouldn’t have been in another. If you are missing one trait that an assessor requires, you may not receive an official diagnosis and feel let down and misunderstood. If you do receive the diagnosis, you may then worry that having a label puts you in a box or leads to stigma, with others not being able to see beyond their stereotypical view of your condition.
Ultimately, everyone is unique within each condition and has different traits, and the key is to learn about yourself and advocate for yourself as much as possible when needed, label or no label.
What are some of the positives of being neurodiverse?
Being neurodiverse is often a struggle due to how the world is organised. However, it also means that people have strengths that neurotypical brains don’t have. Just some of these include people with ADHD being creative, imaginative, always learning and mastering new hobbies. They can be amazing at working under pressure and problem solving. They are good in a crisis and often have a great sense of humour. People with ASC are usually honest, loyal and have a strong sense of justice. They can excel in academics and be creative when problem solving. They can think logically when it’s needed, can have an excellent memory, and have great attention to detail.
Being neurodiverse isn’t a bad thing, it’s just a different thing. As with anything different, we just need to educate ourselves about it, try to understand it, and make suitable accommodations for it. If you or someone you care about is neurodiverse or suspects they might be, I hope this has been at least a start towards this and that you can continue to discover all the great things that can come with it.
Lauren x