Neurodivergence is a term used to recognize and celebrate the individual variation seen in neurological development.  Statistics show that as many as 15-20% of the global population have brains that operate differently than “normal” or neurotypical individuals (DCEG, 2022).  But why do we even use this term? It was first coined in 1998 by an Australian sociologist, named Judy Singer, with the aim of recognizing that everyone’s brains develops in different ways. In the same vein, it’s important to remember that, similar to our fingerprints, no two brains are alike, even for those who are neurotypical! Common diagnoses that fall under the neurodivergent umbrella include ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Tourrette’s Syndrome. However, no two individuals even with the same diagnosis will present with the exact same set of challenges either. It’s also important to remember that the individual variations in our neurological makeup and are not inherently good or bad, but may impact the level of stress or functioning an individual experience in a world that was not built for them in mind. 

Neuroaffirming practices:  We are deep in the midst of an empowering and evolving neuroaffirming movement and it’s in response to a greater awareness of neurodivergence. Now more than ever, health care practitioners are increasingly incorporating neuroaffirming practices into their care, The movement acknowledges that brain differences that influence the way we act and behave are just part of the larger human experience of neurodiversity and are completely valid. This steers away from didactic practices where the professional knows more than the client or that the brain is something to be “fixed”. Rather, the healthcare practitioners work with individuals in a client-centered manner to embrace their differences, including leveraging strengths, and finding solutions as a team. They also emphasize the importance of discovering the correct tools and coping strategies to help that individual, with a customized approach. Instead of trying to force neurodivergent individuals to act or behave in ways that “fit in” with neurotypical society, the emphasis is placed on creating an environment of inclusion. This can look like empowering people to advocate for their specific sensory sensitivities, communication or learning styles in the home, workplace, or community at large.. As a society, if we respect these differences, we will automatically start finding ways to allow these individuals to thrive.

Do you have to have a diagnosis to be neurodivergent?

No.  There are other conditions such as Highly Sensitive Personality (HSP), Synesthesia, or Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), which are not medical conditions in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5, (DSM-V). Sometimes, mental illness is also included in the neurodivergent category. 

How does the brain operate differently?  

Sensory differences.  People who are neurodivergent may find that they process sensory information differently than their neurotypical friends. This might sound anticlimactic, but not when you realize how foundational it is to your sense of calm, focus, and your ability to learn new information. People might be too sensitive (over-responsive), where lights are too bright, sounds are too loud, and smells are distracting. People might even be the opposite of sensitive (under-responsive), leaving them feeling underwhelmed and craving more sensory input than what is deemed “normal” in society. They can also have a combination of these traits, which can leave the person (and others in their lives), unable to peg what’s going on. Under-responsive individuals can also feel like there’s something “wrong” with them, as they seek out movement (fidgeting), smells, or even find themselves constantly touching (maybe knocking over) objects just to feel their sensation. People with sensory challenges might not even realize how taxing it is when their bodies are not calm or regulated, because they are just accustomed to that reality. That is their baseline and you can’t blame them – after all, none of us will ever know what’s it’s truly like to be in another’s body – even with our best efforts to explain the sensations themselves. This dysregulation may interfere with a person’s productivity or even self-esteem, especially with Westernized messages that productivity is the cornerstone of one’s self worth. Sensory overload and sensory burnout can be a common occurrence even within the neurotypical population, because our brains are not designed to take in so much information at our fingertips, period. Symptoms of irritability, fatigue, or body/brain exhaustion are masked as beliefs that “life is just busy” or “I just need to get through another day”. In reality, the body and brain have reached their limit but demands are still being placed on it. The issue is further compounded if there is a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD, where people can fixate or spend their energies on what seems like more urgent matters, leaving the more “important” matters unattended to. Procrastination can lead to missed deadlines, not to mention a growing stress just thinking about the matter (even small ones!) that you’re neglecting.  The need to escape a noisy crowd or an overstimulating birthday party, can seem like an urgent issue for a neurodivergent person with sensory issues but overdramatic to those who can handle it. Their peers might wonder,  “can you just stick it out?”, “suck it up”, or “be patient” which leaves the individual feeling misunderstood.  When the ADHD individual cannot bring themselves to clean their room or work desk because they are paralyzed by the visual clutter (overstimulating) or have trouble with task initiation, they are labeled as “lazy”, which further perpetuates their lack of self-worth.  Some children push back, and then they are labeled as “defiant”, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy the more this label gets thrown around. Perhaps you are a people pleasing adult now because you figured it’s easier to conform than to listen to your true needs. But over time, if your true needs aren’t being met, this can lead to resentment towards others, chronic stress from not taking care of yourself, and burn out in both personal and professional spheres of your life. It’s no wonder people can shut down and even isolate themselves from not only others, but their true selves, contributing to loneliness which only worsens one’s mental health status.

Communication and social differences: Individuals who are neurodivergent also experience social challenges.  This is also tied to sensory processing differences, as you can imagine. If you are experiencing sensory overload, imagine how your ability to make decisions will be affected. Take a second to imagine that overstimulating birthday party again. In some ways, we all have been there!  If your body is in fight or flight mode, and a stranger comes up to you trying to make small talk, you might come off as overly anxious, you might even stumble over your words as you try to “fit in” in that moment. For the autistic individual, part of the diagnosis is having difficulties with social and communication skills, which often go hand in hand. Even subtleties in tone and body language can go missed, which can leave the individual confused about the interaction.  Although every individual is different, they may prefer being told exactly what they need to hear and no other fluff to prevent any miscommunications. They might not enjoy small talk, thinking it’s a useless social convention. Individuals with autism may also speak more bluntly, which can offend others who are not accustomed to it. 

Executive functioning challenges: People with neurodivergence often have challenges in the areas of executive functioning. Thought to originate in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, executive functioning is a set of cognitive skills that develop throughout childhood and adolescence, and often gives us our ability to reason, work through problems, and plan ahead. It also helps us prioritize and make effective decisions in the moment. The areas of executive functioning include flexibility, organization, task initiation, working memory, impulse control, planning, self-awareness, and emotional control.  From a sensory perspective, it goes without saying that if you are so focused on trying to regulate your body either from overwhelming or underwhelming sensations, there is less mental space in your brain to access those higher level cognitive processes. How can you solve a problem (especially if there’s many layers to it) when you cannot even process the problem itself, let alone think of solutions? How can you plan ahead when you are too stressed thinking about surviving tomorrow’s struggles? Perhaps you are motivated enough to start a new task (task initiation) because you are passionate about it, but then get distracted by the constant dings of your phone or even the clock ticking in the background? Then your lack of headway on the project makes you feel defeated, wanting to give up before you even started.  Or sometimes another passion project might seem more appealing a few days later, and you work on that instead.