Mental Health Matters: Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is an increasingly used term in everyday life, but what does it mean?

Let’s first look at the parts of the word. Neuro is short for neurological, meaning that which is related to our nervous system, including the brain. Diversity is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “The condition of having or being composed of differing elements; variety."

Therefore, neurodiversity means the variety or variation of neurological systems in humans.

That there is a diversity of human neurology turns out to be a paradigm-shifting concept.

Before the neurodiversity movement emerged, the predominant view of human cognition was that there were normal people and abnormal people. This was the medical model which tends to view anything that is not “normal” as being something that should be fixed.

The concept of neurodiversity challenges the medical model by asserting that the variation in human cognition is natural and not pathological.

Originally, neurodiversity referred to autistic people. A letter published last year in Autism calls attention to the online community of autistic people in the 1990s who collectively developed the concept of neurodiversity. The collaboration and new terminology gave rise to the idea that autism is a neurological type rather than a disorder.

As the neurodiversity movement has grown, more mental health and neurological conditions have been included under the neurodiversity umbrella.

In addition to autism, a list of neurodiverse conditions usually includes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia (difficulty reading), dyspraxia (difficulty with coordination), dyscalculia (difficulty with basic arithmetic) and sensory processing disorder.

Some lists include Tourette’s, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and anxiety, and synesthesia (a blending of senses). Many people have more than one condition, for example, a person may be autistic and have ADHD, dyslexia and anxiety.

You may have heard that the number of people with ADHD and autism is increasing and wonder why this is. Most research points toward more awareness and improved screening and diagnosis as the source of increased numbers. Many adults have begun seeking assessments as they see their children or others in their families diagnosed.

Late-diagnosed people feel validated after decades of struggle knowing they were different, but not why.

Early diagnosis can be important because people can start receiving the support they need rather than struggle on their own. While autism treatment has often consisted of trying to train more neurotypical behaviors, the neurodiversity movement has called this into question, noting that having to mask or perform in ways that are not natural leads to higher stress and more burnout.

Neurodiversity, especially for autistic people, often includes feeling anxious as well as being overwhelmed by sensory experiences. Scratchy clothing, noisy restaurants and bright light can feel like assaults on one’s system and divert attention and energy away from valued activities.

Relationships are affected, too. The ADHDer may not pay attention in conversation, may be late or cause distractions from their hyperactivity, which can interfere with forming relationships.

Autistic people can have a hard time interpreting what neurotypical people (those with typical neurological systems) mean and may find it difficult to understand neurotypical social behavior. It is quite common for the neurodiverse to be bullied as children and even as adults.

Not everyone who is neurodiverse has an intellectual disability. In fact, most have average or above-average intelligence. A feature shared by those with ADHD and autism is a propensity to be motivated by what interests them, often to the point of not noticing what else is going on around them. Both conditions can also involve repetitive motor movements, which are thought to provide stimulation or be soothing.

If you are neurotypical and encounter someone who seems different, try to understand that the difference is not negative; it is natural.

Try to appreciate that things you view as odd may be how the neurodiverse more comfortably navigates through uncomfortable sensory, cognitive and social situations.

In a world that so often demands sameness, it is important to value others being their authentic selves.

Nora Sinclair is a licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor based in Lexington, S.C.