Are you neurodivergent?

[fintangel]

Have you been diagnosed with, or do you suspect you might have ADHD or ASD or a combination or both?

YABU = yes
YANBU = no, I’m definitely neurotypical

I saw a talk from some ADHD researchers who said that most self diagnoses are correct simply because people know themselves. And they find a very high correlation between self diagnosis and physical evidence (brain imaging).

Don’t think so

Friend suggested I was ADHD this summer, so who knows? Not like anything is going to change now. Teens aren’t, H isn’t, so I very much doubt it and if I do have ADHD it’s the strand that let’s me live a ‘normal life’ with only one major bugbear (which I am sure the medical establishment would laugh me out of the consulting room) and if I have ADHD then everyone I know has it. Making it neurotypical then.

Some of us do realise that lots of people have ND traits, but having some autistic traits doesn’t mean that person is autistic. Lots of the traits can be normal, but it’s the degree to which you experience them and the extent of traits. That’s why it’s annoying when someone sees a reel about traits or online tests, sees they have some traits and then decides they must have autism or ADHD. There’s more to it then that and to have it you just also be significantly impacted in your life. Just look at some of the replies here, saying they cope fine so haven’t gone for diagnosis but they do have it. Im diagnosed with both ASD and ADHD and would be classed as ‘high functioning’, I most definitely don’t cope fine and have been significantly impacted throughout my life.

I’m sick to death of reading about some adults and kids who are ‘neurodivergent’ when they are actually just a royal pain in the arse.

No, that's not what I'm doing at all. Some people are clearly very disabled by Autism and ADHD and the associated traits. They are unarguably disabled. There is a huge grey area though.

I absolutely don't believe that Autism and ADHD are binary conditions that you either have or don't have. I believe they are on a quantitative population wide continuum and lots of people will recognise they have traits and many will have strong traits. With any threshold there will be those that just meet the diagnostic criteria and those that just miss out often based on subjective assessment. Those two groups of people could be very similar in presentation and have far more in common than the person that just meets the criteria would have in common with someone with severe Autism.

The idea of a threshold that denotes a disability is largely subjective. The DSM 5 model has changed over the past few decades and widened diagnosis. The same person that wouldn't be considered disabled a few decades ago now would be considered disabled despite their condition not changing. It is very complicated and undoubtedly future changes will be made and the threshold may move again. Some professionals believe it needs to be raised or clear subtypes need to be added. We need a way of accepting that lots of people struggle with ND traits irrespective of diagnosis and that they may need some level for support rather than attaching it to a diagnostic threshold that wouldn't necessarily reflect need.

You mean how autism and ADHD present in women and girls has been recognised and also that you can have both conditions.

Wow medical misogyny and ableism, you’re excelling yourself!

Clinically speaking, you are by definition.

Clearly ND. I've often been labelled as odd or weird by others. Desperately wanted to fit in when younger, but as I've got older and understood why I am this way, have become much happier with who/what/how I am. Not bothering to get diagnosed because it'll add nothing to my life. Other family members have though.

But again the idea that having 'some' autistic traits doesn't make you autistic is subjective isn't it? There isn't a robust scientific point where suddenly someone tips from having Broader Autism Phenotype to diagnosable Autism. It's all on a continuum. Brain scans suggest any differences between BAP and Autism often aren't detectable at all or are very subtle. It is often the element of subjectivity involved in the diagnostic process that can make the difference.

I'm not denying your struggles. I'm simply suggesting that you might inadvertently be doing that to someone else by assuming that other people without a diagnosis but that are coping can't be experiencing the same traits as you. It's all subjective isn't it? They might have better coping mechanisms or be living a less difficult life. We know for example that ADHD traits can be exacerbated by environmental factors and this could be the difference between getting a diagnosis and not. The underlying neurological traits may be the same. Low demand lifestyles will highlight less functional impairment. Conversely those going through more difficult times are more likely to reach a tipping point and qualify for a diagnosis. Their underlying traits haven't changed though and they have probably been aware of them all their life

And herein lies the problem when people like you have this attitude. You experience them as a pain in the arse. I bet they feel the same about you actually. Doesn't mean they're not ND.

No, you won't shut down discussion on the grounds of sexism and ableism. Lots of experts working in the field believe that the diagnostic criteria has broadened too much and this is harming those most in need.

I don't believe that buying into a false binary is helpful for women or those with ND traits. This is an area of genuine scientific debate. Don't just shout prejudice because you don't want to hear different views.

Yes finally diagnosed with autism and ADHD. I am probably dyslexic too.

The stress of living undiagnosed witb these conditions for most of my life has been a contributing factor to me becoming too ill to work (according to my consultant psychiatrist). So if you think you are ND, get at an assessment because it is better for your health.

I will call out ableism and misogyny. Most experts don’t agree with you as the changes to the diagnostic criteria recognise how both autism and adhd present in women and girls. That shouldn’t be denied or dismissed just because a minority don’t like it.

And I will call out censorship.

The British Psychological Society agrees with me amongst many many others. I would actually dispute your assertions that most experts don't agree.

Just been diagnosed with ADHD at 36. Explains a lot 😀
I also have a son with ASD, and the other AuDHD

Late diagnosed autistic here, with PDA. No adhd. I have a maternal uncle who is deaf and has “classical” autism.

FWIW I totally agree that the diagnostic criteria is a hot mess and an awful lot of mental health problems are chucked in the ND bucket. If behaviours are radically different across as same diagnosis, that points to behaviours, not underlying pathology to my mind.

Is it a disability or an impairment for many who were diagnosed in adulthood, a delay for many.
ADHD was only given as a diagnosis when all avenues had been ventured. Usually as a diagnosis for young boys/men who had no self control and emotional regulation and disruptive problems, now it a used as a blanket diagnosis for a host of mental health problems.

I have no formal diagnosis, but a lot of people have told me they thought I could be a royal pain in the arse. A lot of things in my life would suddenly make sense tbh.

Absolute rubbish and it’s not censorship at all. The BPS very much agrees with how autism present in women and girls as do most experts.

The BPS fully recognises how autism presents in girls and women and its members and researchers actively highlight that historical diagnostic frameworks were built primarily around male behaviours. Psychologists note that autism in girls often presents less through overt disruption and more through internalised traits or passive difficulties. Autistic girls frequently use social camouflaging—copying neurotypical social behaviours—to blend in, which delays formal identification.Research shared through BPS channels shows that autistic girls often display high social motivation and intimate friendships, but may struggle intensely with recognising hidden social conflict. BPS publications and wider clinical studies point out that girls are still diagnosed significantly later than boys on average, frequently being misdiagnosed with anxiety or other mental health conditions first.

Support is very much based on need which needs to be dire so your accusation that women and girls are stealing from others due to diagnosis is also complete rubbish.

You mean autism is under diagnosed and women and girls are still being wrongly diagnosed with other MH conditions- BPD anyone!

This doesn't make sense. ADHD isn't a mental health problem. You can have a mental health problem and ADHD and you can have ADHD and not have a mental health problem.
The Qb test used to help diagnose ADHD is a clinical tool that is objective. It doesn't even use a human with their own ideas to give results.

It's impossible to tell with me (as confirmed by a Dr), as I have a mild brain injury. The traits I have could be ASD or they could be a result of the injury, no-one will ever know for sure.

Probably ADHD but not diagnosed. DS12 is recently diagnosed ASD.

@fintangel you realise ND is not just ADHD or Autism dont you?