To think neurodivergence is more common than neurotypical?

[PrincessOfPreschool]

I'm expecting to get hammered for this and it's only based on my sample size of family, extended family/ in laws, friends, people I work with, children I work with but...

I know a LOT of people who I would describe as 'neurodivergent', I think more than I know who are 'neurotypical'. Some of these are diagnosed (more of the younger generation, a few of my generation and none of my parents' generation - in their 80s). Obviously it's a spectrum so only a very few are significantly impacted in their daily lives (unable to go to school or work) but I can definitely see strong traits in my generation and older, many coping mechanisms being used throughout their lives. I do have quite a high awareness due to training in my work, and knowing friends family with ADHD and autism.

I wondered if it's just my family and the people I know, or if neurodivergence is actually really common to the point of being equally, or even more common, than neurotypical. Why is called divergent if it's actually quite typical?

What's your experience?

Totally missing the point. As with all disabilities autistic people have all the stresses off life with a big fat disability on top that has significant impact on life.

Well no. Because then it wouldn't be typical would it? What you are observing is the pathologizing of every day normal variance in personality type and behaviour across the general population. There isn't some working-stiff type 'Norm' that is a normal person. There is significant variance in personality and behaviour and that is NORMAL. Not neuro divergent. Just normal people. Who are quite weird actually because many people are.

So autism and ADHD are pathologising normal behaviour. Heard it all now. Trust me the behaviours from my dc’s autism and ADHD are not normal behaviours.

No, because actual Autism and ADHD are at a significant minority in the population aren't they? That is not what the poster is getting at. She is saying: are most people ND? To which I answered no, because MOST PEOPLE don't have autism or ADHD. Many people have some of those traits but that doesn't make them ND.

I do wonder if people are worried that most jobs won't exist in 10 or 20 years time and are desperately trying to do what they can to ensure their kids won't end up in dire poverty (obviously it might not pan out like that but there are enough people saying it might to scare most of us). I don't have kids but if I did I would be trying to do everything in my power to make sure they had a decent chance of a liveable income. If there were any signs of neurodivergence/disability I think I'd want to explore that. Especially as adult disability systems often take the absence of a diagnosis or reasonable accommodations in childhood as evidence of a lack of serious disability. I didn't get any accommodations at university because they didn't exist when I was there and they still tried to use it against me to say it was evidence that my issues weren't that bad. Thankfully the fact I took so long to get my degree was grudgingly accepted as evidence that something had indeed always been wrong.

It isn’t belittling to state that thinking you have a condition is not the same as being diagnosed with that condition and unless you have been diagnosed you cannot reliably be included in what that condition is. What’s wrong with saying I think I am autistic? Personally I think saying you are autistic (or have adhd or whatever) without a diagnosis is lying.

It’s hereditary. I see it in a lot of family members on DH’s side. He isn’t but we have a couple of young members who are v much diagnosed autistic - one was in special autism unit - (siblings) and their dad and grandad def come across as ND, but obv older generation.

Many people have traits off autism and ADHD but you have to fulfil all criteria to be diagnosed. I would say my adult DC are probably ND - but they’ve never had a diagnosis - both ‘quirky’ when young but did well at school, both suffer w their MH, etc.

If you’re not diagnosed though then you don’t know if you are or not. It’s not right or ok to say that you have autism or ADHD unless you’ve been professionally diagnosed, you wouldn’t say you have diabetes for example if you hadn’t been diagnosed would you? It ends up with the current situation where many people see the internet reels or quizzes and identify with those and then think they have it, but those don’t actually cover the diagnostic criteria and lots of people have some traits but doesn’t make them autistic. It would be far better and more accurate for people to say they think they have it and are waiting for assessment.

You see I would read that as highlighting the value of people with autism and thus saving at least some of the disabled from being killed. Aspergics do have a profoundly different experience than high functioning autistics (using function as it was originally to describe intelligence not how well you pass for “normal”)in that they don’t have delayed communication to overcome on top of their other challenges.

Everyone I speak to seems to have some kind of ND. I think I’m the odd one out now being NT. Wondering when it will become more difficult to live in a ND world than an NT world.

Do they? Wow where do you live and work. I really don’t see that at all.

Not true at all. Professionals treating my dc very much said how important it was to recognise their autism before diagnosis. They were autistic before diagnosis and after.

Recognising what support is needed and claiming to be autistic when you haven’t been diagnosed are totally different things. Any professional who is suggesting that the diagnosis is trivial and you should just say your child has autism without formal diagnosis is one I would be very wary of.

My kids are definitely ND. I work with children with SEN and have had intensive training, but I won’t be exploring a diagnosis as they are functional and I’m very good at managing my youngest’s behaviour. I imagine in the future the diagnoses will be for those children who are profoundly affected.

😂These were top notch NHS professionals not saying we should say anything. They did however say it was crucial my dc’s autism and was recognised and care be adjusted. We’ve had the same recently re adhd with another child. He absolutely has adhd and autism however the wait for diagnosis is several years and we can’t afford £3k for private. The consultant is an expert in the field and it’s obvious my son has both so the care is very mindful of that.

No the recent review said going going forward it needs to be a “needs-led plus diagnosis” framework.

I once said I could mange my ND DC, their care needs and support from services are significant now. It gets hugely more difficult when they move more in to the world and pressures increase. I too have a huge amount of experience.

To get a diagnosis do you not need evidence that the issues are having a significant affect on their lives? If they are functional, what are the significant effects? Genuine question as I'm curious - not trying to question your judgement and just trying to understand as someone with ND who is not functional at all.

I've heard the theory that making university standardised brought young people together with similar interests, hence two people with a strong ability in STEM subjects might have ND and go on to have ND kids.

If this were true there would be no such thing as neuro typical, and hence no such thing as neuro divergent. The assumption is that there is a norm to diverge from. If no one is typical then there is no norm. This might well be true but then our vocabulary would have to change

Sorry not RTFT but the official stats are three in ten people are neurodivergent, so no there’s more neurotypicals than neurodivergent people.

Yes I think you’re right and it’s great to be aware of also. I am the same but would never go around diagnosing everyone as everyone so different.

“Top notch” professionals who diagnose life long disability don’t as a rule dismiss the value of a rigorous diagnostic process. A bit like good solicitors tend to use legal process not just “wing it” and suggest what they think might be the case.

That’s the point. They don’t have any significant effects, which is why I wouldn’t pursue a diagnosis. If you’re asking what are the characteristics that make me think they are ND. My eldest has always been very quirky and I was told from two that he showed ND signs. Niche interests, lack of social integration, very behind academically. Would gravitate towards certain toys and play with them a certain way. Wouldn’t join in organised activities at all. But he’s now in his teens and smashing it academically and has a small group of mates and is happy. My youngest has a PDA profile. Still has regular meltdowns even though he is far too old. Anxiety high. Socially fine. Academically fine.

So they wouldn’t meet the threshold and don’t have autism or adhd, kind of makes your experience irrelevant.

So they wouldn’t fit the diagnostic criteria and aren’t autistic. 🤷🏻‍♀️