Neurodivergent

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What is a 'neurodivergent family'?
Please don't come for me, I'm genuinely curious. I keep seeing things about it and it's totally new for me. Do people get diagnosed with these things or is it something people are self diagnosing?

I only know one family who identifies this way. Both their teenage kids have diagnoses, mum has self diagnosed ADHD (and seemingly become a self professed expert on everything ND!) and it’s always been clear to everyone that dad doesn’t need a for al
diagnosis!

Neurodivergent usually refers to developmental conditions including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia etc. These are all highly heritable and usually run in families (ADHD is as heritable as height for example) if you’ve got one neurodivergent family member you’ve likely got several, therefore making a neurodivergent family.

Often when children are going through the diagnostic process parents will realise they also meet the criteria, they may not choose to seek formal diagnosis for themselves for various reasons but may still identify as neurodivergent.

Our family was described like this by DD’s paediatrician in her diagnostic report. She has ADHD, I have ASD. DH likely ADHD but not diagnosed, DS likely ASD, maybe ADHD but not diagnosed.

How do you know she has “self diagnosed?”

She probably has got it, as it runs in families.

And of course she will have become an expert if her children have it! Strange post.

Because she tells people!!

I’ve never heard of this term and I’ve got ADHD myself but given as it’s genetic I suppose it’s possible for it to run in families.

I wish people wouldnt inaccurately say it 'runs in families' or its inheritable

The working theory about ND is that it is genetic, and clearly like anything genetic you are more likely to share those genes with people you are related to.

But thats not the same as saying its inheritable.

I should get my ADHD diagnosed as I'm feeling left out. Only one in the family without the paperwork of an ND.

I won't get around to it of course. Apart from not caring (and not wanting any support or changes as all of my greatest strengths come from it) it'd require far too much effort and focus to complete.