If you are NT

[Ohwhatusernamethough]

Do you instantly recognise a ND person?

Sort of related to a thread on here currently, I find it quite fascinating.
I suspect I’m probably ND and wonder if NT people recognise an ND person pretty much immediately? If so, how, what do you see?

I bet they already do their are a lot of undiagnosed nd people about

NT people aren't one homogeneous group, nor are ND people.

Some people are boring, how did you know none of the boring people were ND?

I think I can sometimes. I've worked with someone for a few years who has ASD and I can see similar traits in some.

None of you have to agree with me - same way I think half the people on this website are pompous and talk out of their arse, it’s just an opinion lol

@TheTwitcher11 - I think most people are somewhere on the spectrum. Whether someone is boring or not has nothing to do with neurodiversity.

How on earth can you tell if someone else has dyslexia without either working/teaching very closely with them or doing a dyslexia assessment?

There's a huge mumsnet trend for 'neurodiversity' to only mean autism or ADHD (and to exclude people with those conditions and learning disability)

Totally pointless discussion unless you first specify exactly what conditions you are talking about.

No, I don’t. Although there is always the possibility that I’m ND as well but haven’t realised it. I queued in a supermarket behind a family (grandmother, mother, and small child) and thought to myself I suspect they (mum and grandmother) have autism. Of course it is irrelevant, none of my business, I could be wrong… but that’s just the thought that popped into my head.

Meanwhile, a friend on mine had recently been diagnosed with ADHD and only now I think, ah yes that sounds about right (to my unqualified mind!) Another friend has been referred for assessment and, again, it isn’t something I had assumed of her but I can understand now why she is seeking information/ diagnosis.

Same. I don’t gel with them. And they think im weird. It’s all good…

Its not about putting people in categories its about recognising the struggles of people close to you so that you can help, listen or adjust your own behaviour to make them more comfortable. Being oblivious to someone's struggles is quite self centred

No they are not. Stop spreading crap. Not everyone is on the autism spectrum. If you are on the autism spectrum you have met a specific criteria for diagnosis. End of story.

I do agree with you on that 😂

Tbh I have quite enough to do with my own family. If somebody- say a colleague or friend told me they were struggling because they were ND- of course I would listen or adjust my behaviour. I am not going to assume everyone who is slightly different from the norm is ND.

Truce, lol

What do you see?

✌️

Why on earth would you think anyone slightly different from the norm is ND? People are complex, weird and can often have quirks this is normal human behaviour.

Children develop in their own time and have different strengths. What could possibly make it so obvious in five mins that a child is neurodiverse - they may be reserved or a bit awkward today and have grown out of it in a year!

I think I do, yes.

You seem to want to pick a fight with me @youalright because I have said I can't always recognise ND people.
I am not sure what's so offensive about that but carry on being offended.

With ADHD people who drink too much or are mad sports enthusiasts, or eat sugary things - they’re looking for their dopamine increase.
So when I meet eg a keen fell runner I look more closely and often there are signs, also in other family members. but these are suspicions not absolutes.
Autism seems a broad range - hard to tell

How? What is if?

*It

I think they very quickly notice someone is not like them. But am not NT myself so it’s just a guess

Im not offended im explaining my pov isnt that what this site is about

Same. I also grew up with friends who were all (I assume) NT and all my family members are NT too. I can’t even think back to my school days and think of anyone who I could identify as obviously ND or who even was diagnosed that way. Autistic and ADHD were terms that virtually nobody talked or heard about. I remember watching the film Mercury Rising with my parents when I was younger and that was the first time I had heard of the word Autistic. Either there was just hardly anyone officially diagnosed with it back then, people kept that info very private, or I was just completely oblivious.

It’s just not something I would really think about or think to look for when I meet a new person. NT people can be everything from hyperfocused to hyperactive, bouncing off the walls or socially awkward, passionate and interesting or dull as a dishcloth. I wouldn’t know whether a trait someone had was part of a diagnosed condition or just part of their natural innate personality.

It’s not until I went into teaching in my early 30s that I really encountered people (adults) for the first time who were neurodiverse or forthcoming about being neurodiverse. Before that I worked for big law and finance firms and didn’t know anyone who would describe themselves that way.

Same with some of the children I teach. With some students, unless I had their SEND profile or register tag telling me explicitly that they were ND, I wouldn’t have a clue. I’m getting better with experience and training but I find for the most part it’s hard to tell.