WHAT IS NEURODIVERSITY?

'Neurodiversity' is a word that is used to describe the difference in the way the human brain processes information.  A person can be referred to as 'Neurotypical' or 'Neurodivergent'. 

A person who is Neurodivergent can experience different way of thinking, learning, behaving, communicating , experiencing and/or interacting with the world when compared to a person who is Neurotypical (or societal norms).   

Each person is different in some way and some differences can be as a result of upbringing or choice.  Neurodivergence is a neurological difference that is often present from birth. 

Some neurodivergent conditions include: 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (which affects how people behave)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)  (which affects how people communicate and interact with the world)

Dyscalculia  (which affects arithmetic skills and number sense)

Dyslexia (which affects how people read and spell)

Dyspraxia  (which impacts movement and co-ordination) (also called Developmental Coordination Disorder, or DCD)

Synaesthesia  (crossover of senses, eg  seeing colours when music plays, or tasting flavours when speaking different words)

These conditions very often occur together and many symptoms overlap.

Some of the more common indications of neurodivergence include:

• appearing forgetful or losing things
• suppression or concealment of natural traits (Masking), usually as a social survival strategy
• mood swings and / or exhaustion, often as a result of prolonged periods of masking and sometimes a symptom of burnout
• strong sense of justice and what 'should' be
• perceiving rejection in everyday events (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria)
• difficulty keeping up with time, including lateness, difficulty planning and managing everyday tasks
• feeling anxious about social situations, including planning and rehearsing conversations, struggling with small talk
• difficulty concentrating and focusing, either hyper-focusing on one task or struggling to focus at all
• high sensitivity to external stimuli such as sounds, textures, temperatures and smells, either experiencing acutely or a lack of experience
• self-soothing by repetitive actions (Stimming), including playing with hair, biting nails, listening to the same song over and over
• awareness of patterns, smells or sounds that others don't notice
• experiencing difficulties in the workplace or in learning settings, such as school or college
• difficulty with emotional regulation, either feeling emotions intensely or a difficulty identifying or naming emotions (Alexithymia), either their own or someone else's
• sensitivity to change, including routines and diet
• difficulty understanding nuanced conversations, including sarcasm and implied meaning
• acting impulsively or having a reduced sense of danger
• addiction, including drugs, alcohol and eating disorders