Neurodivergence is a term that describes the natural variation in human neurology and cognitive functioning. It refers to individuals who have neurological differences that are outside the typical range of variation in the human population. People who are neurodivergent often have unique strengths and abilities, as well as challenges in areas such as communication, social interaction, and sensory processing.
The term “neurodiversity” was coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in the late 1990s and has since been embraced by the neurodivergent community as a way to promote acceptance, understanding, and accommodations for those with neurological differences. The neurodiversity movement aims to shift the focus from curing or normalising neurodivergent individuals to valuing their differences and creating inclusive environments that allow them to thrive.
Neurodivergent individuals may experience stigma, discrimination, and barriers to accessing resources and support due to their differences. However, there is a growing movement to recognise and celebrate neurodiversity as an important aspect of human variation and to promote acceptance and inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in all areas of life.
You may have heard a variety of terms used to describe neurodiverse individuals, but do you know the difference?
Neurodivergent individuals can have a wide range of neurological differences, and not all neurodivergent individuals will have the same experiences. However, some common characteristics of neurodivergent individuals may include:
Developmental neurodiversity refers to differences in neurological development that are present from birth or early childhood. This includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others that are typically diagnosed in childhood.
Acquired neurodiversity, on the other hand, refers to neurological differences that develop later in life, often as a result of injury, illness, or trauma. For example, a traumatic brain injury or a stroke can result in acquired dyslexia, ADHD-like symptoms, or other neurological changes.
While both developmental and acquired neurodiversity can result in unique strengths and challenges, the experiences and needs of individuals with acquired neurodiversity may differ from those with developmental neurodivergence. For instance, someone who has acquired dyslexia may have different needs and experiences than someone with developmental dyslexia.
The neurodiversity umbrella encompasses a broad range of neurological differences and recognises that each individual is unique and has their strengths and challenges.
The neurodiversity movement has also been influential in shifting the way society views and understands neurological differences, moving away from the medical model that pathologies neurological differences towards a more inclusive and accepting model that recognises the value of neurodiversity and the contributions that neurodivergent individuals can make to society. Below are a few of the many conditions that fall under the neurodiversity umbrella.
Anxiety is a natural response to stress or danger and can be described as a feeling of unease, such as fear or apprehension, about what is to come. It is a normal emotion that everyone experiences from time to time, but for some people, anxiety can become excessive, frequent, and interfere with their daily life.
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterised by excessive and persistent worry, fear, or nervousness about everyday situations or specific triggers. Some common anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.
Symptoms of anxiety can vary depending on the individual and the type of anxiety disorder, but common physical symptoms may include increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and difficulty breathing. Psychological symptoms may include excessive worry, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults, characterised by difficulty with impulsivity and hyperactivity along with differences in attention.
Symptoms of ADHD may include difficulty sustaining attention, being easily distracted, forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions or completing tasks, impulsivity, restlessness, and fidgeting. Hyperactivity symptoms may include excessive talking, fidgeting, and an inability to sit still. These symptoms often lead to difficulty in academic, social, and occupational settings.
Auditory processing disorder (APD) is a condition in which the brain has difficulty processing and interpreting sounds, even though a person’s hearing may be normal. Individuals with APD may have difficulty recognising or distinguishing sounds, especially in noisy environments or when multiple sounds are present.
Common symptoms of APD include difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, following directions, and distinguishing similar-sounding words. Individuals with APD may also have difficulty with phonemic awareness, which is the ability to distinguish and manipulate individual sounds within words.
The exact causes of APD are not fully understood, but it is believed to involve differences in the way the brain processes and interprets auditory information. APD may co-occur with other conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and language disorders.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction and behaviour. It is called a “spectrum” disorder because it can affect individuals in a wide variety of ways and to different degrees.
Common symptoms of ASD may include difficulty with social communication and interaction, such as making and maintaining eye contact, understanding social cues, and engaging in reciprocal conversation. Individuals with ASD may also engage in repetitive or restrictive behaviours, such as repetitive movements or rituals, fixated interests, or sensory sensitivities.
The exact causes of ASD are not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Research suggests that differences in brain development and function may also play a role.
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a mental health condition that may develop as a result of experiencing repeated or prolonged trauma, especially in childhood or other vulnerable times of life. C-PTSD is similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but it involves a more persistent and pervasive pattern of symptoms, often including difficulties with emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, self-concept, and somatic symptoms.
C-PTSD may develop after exposure to a range of traumatic events such as childhood abuse, neglect, or abandonment, domestic violence, human trafficking, or prolonged exposure to combat or war. These experiences can lead to feelings of intense fear, helplessness, and a lack of control, as well as a sense of betrayal, loss of safety, and distorted beliefs about oneself and others.
Common symptoms of C-PTSD may include flashbacks, avoidance of triggers, nightmares, dissociation, emotional dysregulation, difficulty with interpersonal relationships, negative self-concept, and physical symptoms such as chronic pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems.
Depression is a mental health disorder characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable. It can affect a person’s mood, behavior, physical health, and overall quality of life.
Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but common signs include feelings of sadness or emptiness, loss of energy or fatigue, changes in appetite or weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, and thoughts of death or suicide.
The causes of depression are not fully understood, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Life events such as trauma, loss, or stress can trigger or contribute to depression. Chemical imbalances in the brain and changes in brain structure or function may also play a role.
Developmental language disorder (DLD) is a condition in which a child has difficulty with language development and communication, even though there is no obvious reason for the difficulty. It is also sometimes called specific language impairment (SLI).
Children with DLD may struggle with a range of language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, and understanding spoken language. They may have difficulty expressing themselves in a way that is appropriate for their age and may struggle with social communication and interactions.
The exact causes of DLD are not entirely understood, but it is believed to be related to differences in brain structure and function, as well as genetic and environmental factors.
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers. It is sometimes referred to as “number dyslexia” or “math dyslexia.”
People with dyscalculia may have difficulty with a range of mathematical skills, including counting, recognising numbers and symbols, performing arithmetic operations, understanding mathematical concepts and relationships, telling time, and estimating quantities.
The causes of dyscalculia are not entirely understood, but it is believed to be related to differences in brain function and structure. It often co-occurs with other learning disorders, such as dyslexia and ADHD.
Dyscalculia can have significant impacts on a person’s academic and daily life. However, with appropriate interventions and accommodations, such as extra time on math tests or the use of assistive technology, individuals with dyscalculia can achieve success in math and related fields.
Dysgraphia is a specific learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to write, spell, and express themselves in written language. It can manifest in various ways, including difficulty with handwriting, spelling, grammar, and organisation of written language.
Individuals with dysgraphia may struggle to form letters and words correctly, write legibly, or express their ideas coherently in writing. They may also have difficulty with fine motor skills, such as gripping a pencil or pen, or may experience physical discomfort while writing.
The causes of dysgraphia are not entirely understood, but it is believed to be related to differences in brain function and structure. It often co-occurs with other learning disorders, such as dyslexia and ADHD.
Dyslexia is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to read, write, and spell. It is a type of learning disorder that can have significant impacts on academic performance, social interactions, and self-esteem.
Individuals with dyslexia may have difficulty with decoding words, recognising words quickly and accurately, and understanding the meaning of written language. They may also struggle with spelling and writing, and may have difficulty with reading comprehension and recall.
Dyslexia is believed to be caused by differences in the way the brain processes language, particularly in the areas of the brain that are responsible for decoding and encoding written language. While the exact causes of dyslexia are not fully understood, it is believed to be related to genetic and environmental factors.
Fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) is a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. The effects of FASD can vary widely, but they can include physical, behavioural, and cognitive problems that can have lifelong implications.
The most severe form of FASD is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which can cause facial abnormalities, growth deficits, and central nervous system problems. Other forms of FASD may not have visible physical features, but can still cause significant developmental, behavioural, and cognitive difficulties.
The exact cause of FASD is not entirely understood, but it is believed to be related to the effects of alcohol on the developing brain and body of the fetus. The risk of FASD is highest when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol during the first trimester, but any amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy can increase the risk.
Hyperlexia is a condition in which a child has an advanced ability to read, often beyond what is expected for their age and developmental level. Children with hyperlexia may demonstrate exceptional reading skills, such as the ability to read early, read fluently, and comprehend complex texts. However, they may also have difficulty with other language and communication skills, such as social interactions, verbal communication, and understanding spoken language.
Hyperlexia is sometimes seen as part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can co-occur with other developmental disorders. The exact causes of hyperlexia are not fully understood, but it is believed to involve differences in brain structure and function that affect language processing and learning.
While hyperlexia is often seen as a positive or advanced skill, it can also present challenges for children and their families. Children with hyperlexia may struggle with social interactions, making friends, and communicating effectively with others. They may also have difficulty understanding abstract concepts and may experience frustration or anxiety when they encounter language tasks that are outside of their reading abilities.
Meares-Irlen syndrome, also known as visual stress syndrome or Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS), is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain processes visual information.
People with Meares-Irlen syndrome experience visual discomfort and sensitivity to certain patterns, colours, and contrasts. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, and difficulty reading or focusing.
The condition is often triggered by reading or looking at computer screens for prolonged periods, and it is more common in individuals with conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterised by intrusive and repetitive thoughts, images, or impulses (obsessions) that cause intense anxiety or distress, and/or repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) that are performed in response to these obsessions.
The obsessions and compulsions of OCD can interfere with a person’s daily activities, relationships, and quality of life. Common obsessions may include fear of contamination or harm, religious or sexual obsessions, or the need for symmetry or order. Common compulsions may include excessive cleaning or hand-washing, checking behaviours, counting, or repeating certain words or phrases.
The exact causes of OCD are not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to differences in brain function and structure, as well as genetic and environmental factors. OCD often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is a mental health condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Traumatic events can include but are not limited to, military combat, physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, accidents, or witnessing violent crimes.
PTSD can cause intense feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness that persist long after the traumatic event has ended. Symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event, avoidance of triggers associated with the event, hypervigilance, insomnia or nightmares, and feeling numb or detached from others.
PTSD can also lead to other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. PTSD is a complex condition that can affect a person’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which the stimulation of one sense (such as hearing) causes an automatic and involuntary experience in another sense (such as seeing colours). This means that people with synesthesia experience a blending of their senses, where sensory information is processed in multiple areas of the brain at the same time, leading to unique sensory experiences.
For example, a person with synesthesia may see specific colours when they hear certain sounds, or taste specific flavours when they see certain shapes or textures. There are many different types of synesthesia, and people with synesthesia may experience it in different ways or combinations.
Synesthesia is estimated to affect around 1-4% of the population and is considered a type of neurodiversity. While it is not a disorder or disease, and people with synesthesia generally lead normal lives, it can affect how they experience the world around them and may impact their perception of art, music, or other sensory experiences.
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder characterised by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalisations called tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, and recurrent movements or sounds that are difficult or impossible to control.
Tourette’s syndrome is often first diagnosed in childhood and may become less severe or disappear completely in adulthood. However, for some individuals, it can persist into adulthood and continue to have an impact on daily life.
In addition to tics, individuals with Tourette’s syndrome may experience other neurological and behavioural symptoms, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety or depression.
The exact cause of Tourette’s syndrome is not known, but it is believed to involve genetic and environmental factors that affect the development and function of the brain. While there is no cure for Tourette’s syndrome, symptoms can be managed through a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
