What Does 'Neurodivergent' Mean?

The terms "neurodivergent" and "neurodiverse" refer to people whose thought patterns, behaviors, or learning styles fall outside of what is considered "normal," or neurotypical of humans. Neurodivergence embraces the idea that differences in the human brain are natural and, in many cases, can lead to meaningful and positive insights and abilities.

The concept of neurodiversity is gaining traction as both neurodiverse and neurotypical people are finding that differences are not necessarily disabilities. Some differences can be real strengths.

This article discusses what it means to be neurodivergent, types of neurodiversity, and related signs. It also addresses how to accommodate a person who is neurodiverse.

What Neurodivergent Means

The term "neurodiversity" was first used in 1997 by Judy Singer, a sociologist on the autism spectrum. It is an alternative to the use of terms like disability or deficit when describing atypical social, physical, or verbal traits that are different from those seen in neurotypical people.

The term was intended to be comparable to the term "biodiversity," which refers to the diversity of all living things. Neurodiversity refers to the variety of ways all people think and behave.

While brains can work differently in autistic people or those with an ADHD diagnosis, they're still along a continuum of human experience so that both strengths (like highly focused attention) and challenges (like stimming, or repetitive motion behaviors) exist within neurodivergence.

Who Is Neurodiverse?

The neurodiverse population includes people with specific diagnoses that are considered developmental disorders (as opposed to intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses). These include but are not limited to:

• Autism: A developmental disorder that includes differences in social communication skills, fine and gross motor skills, speech, and more
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A neurodevelopmental disorder that includes features of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
• Tourette's syndrome: A tic disorder that starts in childhood and involves involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations
• Various learning disabilities such as dyslexia (difficulty with language skills, especially reading) and dyscalculia (difficulty with doing basic arithmetic)

It is possible to become neurodiverse as the result of a physical or emotional injury or trauma, but in most cases, neurodiversity exists from birth onward and includes many unknowns about the future.

Neurodivergence is often first recognized at the time of a diagnosis. Of course, neurodivergent behaviors and thinking exist before that. There are also individuals with related symptoms but without diagnoses who consider themselves neurodiverse.

The term "neurodiversity" is rarely applied to mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. However, there is a debate over whether the term is an appropriate one for treatable mental health illnesses as well.

While some mental health disorders, such as anxiety, may occur in neurodivergent people, they can also affect those who are neurotypical. Therefore, being anxious is not a sign of neurodivergence.

Neurodivergent Signs and Examples

There are a great many ways in which thoughts, behaviors, and emotional responses can be neurodivergent.

It's important to remember that neurodivergence is a cultural construct. So, behaviors that are considered "normal" in one part of the world may be considered "atypical" elsewhere or at a different time in history.

Challenging Traits, Characteristics, and Signs of Neurodiversity

Being neurodiverse can be challenging. Some common and challenging signs of neurodiversity include:

• Social communication difficulties, such as trouble making eye contact while talking or not reading body language
• Speech and language challenges, such as stuttering and repetition
• Learning challenges that may be related to difficulties with focus, reading, calculation, ability to follow spoken language, and/or problems with executive functioning (important skills, including working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control)
• Unusual responses to sensory input (sensitivity or unusual insensitivity to light, sound, heat, cold, pressure, crowds, and other stimuli)
• Unusual physical behaviors, such as rocking, expressing tics, blurting things out, and shouting at unexpected times
• Inflexibility (inability to adapt or to change interests based on age or situation)

Because they are considered "not like everyone else," neurodivergent people may struggle with fitting in socially, behaving in expected ways, or easily adjusting to change. They also may be highly intelligent and live independently with few visible signs of their challenges.

Helpful Traits, Characteristics, and Signs of Neurodiversity

While neurodiversity can make life more difficult, it can also make certain tasks easier. In some cases, neurodiverse ways of seeing and making sense of the world can result in exciting discoveries and intriguing outcomes.

Some signs of neurodiversity that can have a positive impact include:

• Ability to stay focused on a topic or activity of interest for long periods
• Outside-the-box thinking, which can lead to innovative solutions to challenges
• Strong observational skills and attention to detail
• Superior ability to recognize patterns, including in codes and behaviors
• Having strong skills in areas such as music, art, technology, and science

Of course, these are very generalized descriptions. Certain skills, called splinter skills, may be an isolated area of ability even as a person faces challenges in other, more typically useful skills. Some experts recommend a holistic approach to education and development, rather than emphasizing "savant skills" alone in a neurodivergent person.

Why the Term "Neurodiversity" Caught On

Neurodiversity caught on quickly once the term was coined in 1998. This occurred for several reasons. For one, the number of people with diagnosed developmental disorders exploded in the early 2000s, making neurodiversity a much more common phenomenon.

Because people don't "grow out of" autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, or Tourette's syndrome, neurodiverse children become neurodiverse adults—many of whom are very capable of self-advocacy.

Diagnostic labels are constantly changing, based largely on cultural norms and expectations. The 2013 update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the official handbook of the American Psychiatric Association, included major changes.

It removed the disorder called Asperger's syndrome (high-functioning autism), altered the definitions of autism and ADHD, and added hoarding disorder as a new diagnosable disorder.

Asperger's syndrome was considered a unique disorder for only about 20 years—from 1993 to 2013. Hoarding (accumulating excessive belongings, often of little value) only became pathological until 2013. Presumably, it was considered neurotypical before that time.

Clearly, the distinction between neurotypical and neurodivergent is flexible and constantly changing.

Why Neurodiversity Is Important

The concept of neurodiversity has become increasingly attractive to people who consider themselves neurodivergent and those who write about, speak about, and work directly with neurodivergent individuals. There are several reasons for this, including:

• Neurodivergent self-advocates have become strong supporters of the concept of neurodiversity and are working hard to establish a sense of pride in neurodiverse ways of thinking and behaving.
• Educators are discovering that a large portion of their student population is neurodivergent. They are legally bound to provide appropriate educational accommodations based on individual needs, rather than diagnosis.
• Many employers and members of the general population see real adaptive benefits to neurodivergence. In fact, the Harvard Business Review specifically touts neurodiversity as a competitive advantage because it often imparts many strengths and positive traits.

The number of people who could be described as neurodivergent is still rising. While there is no official statistic available, the ADHD Aware organization estimates the number of people with neurodivergent disorders (autism, ADHD, Tourette's, various learning disabilities, and related challenges) comes to over 30% of the population.

How to Accommodate Someone Who Is Neurodivergent

People who are neurodivergent can be very different from one another, which makes it difficult to provide a single list of helpful accommodations. However, there are some that can support both children and adults with or without specific neurodivergent diagnoses.

Certain accommodations are legally required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Some of the easiest and most effective accommodations include:

• Awareness of neurodivergence and willingness to be flexible at school or in the workplace when specific, reasonable requests are made: These may range from wearing noise-blocking headphones in school corridors to a preference to work from home or communicate via text vs. videoconference.
• Positive responses to sensory challenges that may cause physical discomfort: These may include replacing fluorescent light bulbs with less-harsh incandescent or LED lights, reducing ambient noise, eliminating air fresheners, moving one's workplace to a quieter spot, and providing natural light.
• Technological supports for managing time and schedules: These can include smartphone alarms, calendars, and other time-management software.
• Options for different ways of taking in and communicating information: These may include oral vs. written reports, videos vs. lectures, and typed responses vs. in-person meetings.
• Sensitivity to social differences: Examples include taking it in stride rather than reacting negatively if someone speaks loudly, has tics, stammers, or finds it difficult to socialize in a typical manner, as well as repeating words or speaking more slowly to improve comprehension.

In addition to accommodating differences, it's also important to recognize and build on differences when they are helpful. Ways this is accomplished include:

• Carving out a job that makes the most of an individual's strengths without unduly challenging their weaknesses
• Assigning a particular job or activity based on an individual's strengths and preferences
• Asking neurodivergent students or employees for their advice and input when designing office spaces, teams, and project management systems

Summary

Neurodivergence is a relatively new concept that presents neurological differences as normal variations rather than pathological disorders. It is growing in significance and can be very helpful in creating universally accessible schools, workplaces, and communities.

People who are neurodivergent usually are diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or Tourette's syndrome, but may also have related differences such as sensory dysfunction.

It is not only appropriate but easy and helpful to work with neurodivergent self-advocates, students, and employees to provide accommodations while also supporting and promoting individual strengths and abilities.