Understanding Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence
Summary
“Neurodiversity” designates the diversity of human brains and minds. It is a biological fact expressing the idea that not two brains are the same.
“Neurodivergence” refers to individual neurological development or functioning that differs from what is considered typical or dominant in a given society - called “neurotypical”. Neurodivergence is a non-medical concept that frames neurological differences as differences rather than deficits. It includes differences like autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, hypersensitivity etc…
Around 20% of the German population is estimated to be neurodivergent. This is likely an underestimation, due to the very recent awareness around the topic, due to the stigmas related to “being neurodivergent” and due to people “masking” their neurodivergent traits to appear neurotypical.
Neurodivergent people share some characteristics: the feeling of not fitting within the society, an acute sensitivity to one or multiple senses, an increased fear of rejection, the possibility to hyperfocus, increased pattern recognition abilities in specific contexts.
Being a neurodivergent person in our society is difficult as the society is not designed for us. Neurodivergence is a situation where society creates the source of the disability. Neurodivergent people are discriminated against and excluded due to the stigmas related to it, and due to the multiple occurring sensory overload. The mental health of neurodivergent people is in general worse than the general population due to all the above-mentioned reasons.
The neurodiversity movement is a social justice movement that seeks civil rights, equality, respect, and full societal inclusion for the neurodivergent people
Neurodiversity
“Neurodiversity” designates the diversity of human brains and minds. It is a biological fact expressing the idea that neurological differences are natural variations of the human brain, and that not two brains are the same. The notion appeared in 1996, from the online community of autistic people. [1] [2]
It was followed a decade later by the emergence of the notion of Neurodivergence. [3]
Neurodivergence
“Neurodivergence” refers to individual neurological development or functioning that differs from what is considered typical or dominant in a given society - called “neurotypical”. An individual who lies within this notion is called a “neurodivergent individual”.
Neurodivergence is a non-medical concept that frames neurological differences as differences rather than deficits. It includes differences like autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, hypersensitivity etc… Neurodivergence is a spectrum, meaning that neurodivergent people are often at the intersection of multiple of its differences (for example: AuDHD designates the intersection between Autism and ADHD).
Neurodivergent presence in the population
Around 20% of the German population is estimated to be neurodivergent. [4] That number is likely underestimated due to three main reasons:
1. Its awareness in the public debate is very recent and therefore still low;
2. The stigmas related to different aspects of neurodivergence - for example “being an autistic person” is still used as an insult in a few countries - [5]
3. Masking strategies, making them harder to recognize: as a result of all the discrimination faced due to being neurodivergent, with time, neurodivergent people acquire strategies that allow them to appear neurotypical and therefore be more accepted by society. [6] Such strategies include repeating speeches or behaviours from the environment in order to appear “typical”, maintaining eye contact even where it is uncomfortable, scripting future social interactions or forcing oneself to stay still while the body absolutely wants to move.
What do neurodivergent people share between them?
Establishing a typical profile of a neurodivergent person is impossible, since neurodivergence has many dimensions and individual levels of masking differ substantially. There are however some shared characteristics among neurodivergent people.
The main one is the feeling of not fitting within society, being misaligned with its expected behaviours and perceptions. These include emotional control and communication.
Another one is hyperfocus: in-depth focus on specific topics or tasks, ignoring surroundings and time, sometimes to a point where even the primary individual needs are ignored.
A recurring aspect is the acute sensitivity to one or multiple senses (sound, smell, vision, texture) or to emotional stimuli. These often lead to sensory overloads due to the neurodivergent brain processing some information more deeply than the neurotypical brain. [7]
The ability to recognize specific patterns is also a common characteristic, especially among individuals within the autism or ADHD spectra.
Finally, neurodivergent people frequently develop “rejection sensitive dysphoria”, stemming from the overlap between their enhanced sensory sensitivity and the experience of social exclusion, which results in an increased fear of rejection, and further masking. [8]
A diagnosis, even if “unofficial” (“self-identified” in surveys), is usually the starting point of almost a new life, because the individual then has an answer to their “social deficit”, can undo masking, and embrace their particular behaviour as part of their identity.
Key challenges
Neurodivergent people have different ways of interacting with their surroundings than what is expected in the given society. The gap between rather rigid behavioural expectations in our society, their implementation into the way public environments are designed - only for certain types of brain - and the different needs of neurodivergent people creates a somewhat oppressive public space where neurodivergent people do not feel comfortable in. Neurodivergence is therefore not a personal disability but rather a situation where society creates the source of the disability.
The possibility of sensory overload of multiple nature (sound, smell, vision, texture) excludes them physically from spaces where these overload can occur.
Neurodivergent people also face direct discrimination, from the stigmas associated with their differences in the society. [5] This, together with the sensory overload, lead to the development of rejection sensitive dysphoria, resulting in an increased fear of rejection.
The mental health of Neurodivergent individuals is worse than the general population. [9] This is due to all the reasons just mentioned, but also to masking, which is extremely energy-costly as it forces people into behaviours that are completely unnatural to them. [10]
The neurodiversity movement
The neurodiversity movement is a social justice movement that seeks civil rights, equality, respect, and full societal inclusion for the neurodivergent people.
Its general objectives are:
Respect: via destigmatization and increased awareness. We are only different and have a lot to bring to society.
Equality: Equal opportunities, in daily life and in career, as neurotypical people.
Inclusion: Public and work spaces that include our sensitivities and needs in their design. Adapt communication styles in ways that are more understandable to us.
About the author
Dr. Davy Lin (he/him) is a self-identified neurodivergent on both the ADHD and autistic spectras, diagnosed by his therapist who is herself on both spectra. Although suspected for a long time, that identification, as a “confirmation”, changed his perception of himself and of the world, and helped a lot in building self-confidence. He is ever since involved in the neurodivergent community. Holding a PhD in organic chemistry obtained in Germany, he is also highly enthusiastic about topics related to human rights, diversity and equity, sustainability, and science communication.
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References
[1] - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/618309342c2ee8376ef9f36e/t/6387e9ca81597b3880147ba0/1669851598123/NickWalker_NEURODIVERSITY-SOME-BASIC-TERMS-AND-DEFINITIONS.pdf
[2] - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613241237871
[3] - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/identity/autism-and-neurodiversity
[4] - https://hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de/en/neurodiversity-in-digital-university-teaching/
[5] - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/aut.2021.0005
[6] - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/behaviour/masking and https://www.oxfordcbt.co.uk/adhd-masking/
[7] - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124713005706?via%3Dihub
[8] - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1089/aut.2021.0021 https://neurodivergentinsights.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria/?srsltid=AfmBOoql1QhuhollFWmSkQeHn9jp4Ah3pKIcliL5dd16hLf-_kIbCOKV
[9] - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01718-2 and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215036619302895?via%3Dihub
[10] - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13623613231183059