To think the terms "neuro diverse" and "neuro typical" will be short lived.

[theplatformedge]

Diversity means "a range of many people or things that are very different from each other" (Oxford learner's dictionary), so the idea that a minority of people are "neuro diverse" and everyone else is "neuro typical" is not only semantically illogical, but also potentially offensive.

We're all different. Some people have traits that make life more difficult for them than others, whether it be ASD, ADHD or a range of other conditions, with spectrums of severity. Telling people that you're neuro-diverse is so vague as to be meaningless, and telling other people they are nero-typical when you have no idea what they're feeling inside is insensitive. Some people get a formal diagnosis for their symptoms, some people self-diagnose and others don't recognise it in themselves. Nobody knows how many people are living with these traits across the population, but the massive increase in diagnostics suggests they're a lot more common than anyone ever thought in the past, and therefore gradually becoming very "typical".

Discuss! 🙂

Discuss!

Why, what are you gathering responses for?

discuss

Yes sir no sir three bags full sir

Discuss

You might be right. You might not. In conclusion, maybe.

Personally I prefer neurodivergent. I think "neurodiverse" comes from people not knowing the difference between diverse and divergent.

And the terms will probably eventually go the same way as all former medical diagnoses turned slurs (The R word, moron, spas**c etc...)
How long that takes is anyone's guess though.

Thanks. 'Discuss!' is an ironic reference to A-Level style questions of a past age, but not everyone will appreciate it as that, so I agree it doesn't work in this context - it was written hastily as my train reached its station. Too late to edit, so I've asked MNHQ to change it.

I confess to being pretty ignorant on the subject of Neurodiversity (except for what I read on MN), but the more I think about it, the more I'm coming to the conclusion that we're ALL ND, really. Not being facetious - we're all on some kind of spectrum. My adult daughter has very mild Aspergers and knowing that has helped us to understand some of her challenging behaviours.

I think they ought to be replaced as our understanding increases and I would imagine it'd be hard to find someone who would declare themselves Neurotypical!

I'm sure I'm not alone here in realising that I and practically every one of my friends and family exhibit some form of ND. But mildy - and if it's mild, I think you just have to get on with life in the knowledge that most people have some issues in this way. But understanding these conditions is helpful in allowing people to modify their own behaviour. Eg if you realise you have an organisational problem (like my eternally unpunctual sister) then you can acknowledge that and find strategies to help.

100% agree. Drives me mad.

I can’t imagine it will for a while, it’s a bit of a buzzword at the moment - I’ve been tasked with developing a training programme for a huge business on supporting neurodivergent staff and clients; I know it’s similarly a big thing in the public sector right now.

Reaearch indicates that a huge number of people in prison are neurodivergent - huge numbers with speech and language deficits that have often been undiagnosed. That’s people going through court judgements who have poor communication skills... There’s a huge link between neurodiversity and adverse childhood experiences, poverty, low educational attainment, substance misuse, unemployment, etc. Not to mention bullying in schools and trauma. It’s important that we recognise neurodivergence early and support children and young people to reach their full potential, that means putting in places the necessary adjustments for them.

Making small adjustments - and they often are small adjustments - doesn’t take much time and can be a huge benefit to those who are neurodivergent - when I have for example travelled by train I’ve explained before that I’m neurodivergent and I’ve been given support to walk through busy stations, as I find the high sensory input and high levels of info to process to be very overwhelming which can lead to a panic attack and subsequent meltdown when I get home. Having support there when I need it makes a huge difference, even if it’s just the ticket barrier staff letting me go more slowly and not rushing me!

Do you know what? I have a non verbal type of ASD child and a close to diagnosis cut off child.

I do not want to discus it as what ever you say it gets micro disected and you offend someone. You can not compare my kids presentations of ASD.

What I personally want to do is never ever get drawn into conversations on ASD. I was telling my Bi son that he shouldn't feel safe talking about LBQT because he is the wrong flavour of Bi and will offend someone.

Understanding that some people have a disability or diagnosis that means they might need some extra support with day to day activities drives you mad? Why? Genuinely curious why that would annoy you.

"Discuss"

No. 😠

Neurodivergent and neurodiverse don’t have a definitive meaning, which means that anyone can use them. From people who are severely disabled with autism to people who just feel a bit different from those around them. Added to this that none of the neurodevelopmental diagnoses have definitive diagnostic criteria, both words are functionally meaningless.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. What drives me mad is people bandying around the term neurotypical when they don't know anything about someone else.

I always think this is a journalism question. Question time anyone?

I'm dyslexic and I'm fascinated by people who get hung up on looking for non international meaning in words. Very much in this topic and the way its asked.

I'm very literal in that respect. I can't cry, shake or clutch my pearls for example comparing ASD and ASC. Dc was diagnosed with ASD Very recently. It's just words that don't ignite my soul.

This is depressing.

There is, it's just gone out of favour as a diagnosis. Trying to lump people who have zero issues ( just a but quirky) with non-verbal people is a massive mistake IMO.

Doesn't "neurodiverse" apply to a group of people (which may include ND and NT people) and "neurodivergent" apply to an individual?

I do think that the deeper we get into this territory, the more we will end up dismantling the category of "neurotypical" and thinking more about the quirks and particularities of brains within the NT category too. I often think that while the world is undoubtedly a LOT easier to navigate for NT people, there are lots of things that don't work well for "NT" brains either.

This is not in anyway to deny that neurodivergence is a very real thing which has a huge impact on those who are ND.

It is just a term for someone without a diagnosis, surely?

I have no diagnosis. I sure as he'll don't think like the majority of other humans. I can't say I have asd as I don't really want to find out in two years' time. So I'm neurotypical by default here

Using the term neurodiverse/neurodivergent also means you’re giving a fast explanation to people - I’d rather not stand in a supermarket and apologise for taking longer and say, ‘I’ve got complex PTSD, panic disorder, dyspraxia and OCD’ - saying, ‘I’m neurodivergent, can you give me 5 minutes’ generally means people understand faster. I honestly think there should be an advertising campaign on it, but that’s by the by.

Self diagnosis is an interesting issue and debate, a lot of women especially probably do fit the criteria for a diagnosis of autism but were overlooked in school - and now adept at masking and able to compensate - and so never diagnosed formally.

There is the trend almost of diagnosis by tiktok (etc) wherein a minority of people will almost collect labels (interestingly there’s also a correlation with people who identify as being ‘gender fluid’ etc) but that’s a different debate, although also very interesting. You see it on online survey data that the respondents tend not to be truly representative of normal demographics… Rather than condemn its more interesting to consider why people feel the need to be different, or to find an identity and belonging, and why that sense of identity can only be achieved through for example, stacking up psychiatric labels. It’s probably disordered behaviour in and of itself.

I’m doing this (studying neurodiversity movement) as part of my degree/dissertation so could talk about this all day.

It’s an unhelpful framing of a real phenomenon.

Turns out that few people are fully ‘typical’. Many have traits or one or another condition, and the diagnosis comes when those difficulties are causing significantly impacting people’s lives.

People who understand their condition and have a supportive environment manage really well. Others spiral into significant disability and exclusion.

We need a more empathic, flexible society.

I think they were referring to the 'very mild' part. In addition to that, giving a neurological disorder a separate name to differentiate a certain group who are seemingly less effected reeks of Asperger's own eugenics classifications, that is the massive mistake that has thankfully been rectified.

I think its useful if you dont want to go into a specific diagnosis with someone or if you are awaiting a diagnosis/cant afford one. As i think a lot of people would find themselves diagnosed with something different than they first thought.
But it is so vague and broad its almost meaningless and really very few people would be neurotypical thier whole life by the time you have covered asd, adhd, dyslexia, attatchment disorders, dyspraxia, sensory processing, ptsd, anxiety disorders, depressive episodes, personality disorders, tourertes etc. So you come back to having to specify your area of difficulty if its to help anyone.

gluggle

I'm shocked at the rudeness and abruptness of your response. I'm not an expert - I made that very clear, but my post was written in good faith and a spirit of humility. Yours, I found very arrogant and judgmental.

I have reported you for a personal attack.