What Is Neurodiversity and Why Does It Matter?
A definition, some personal reflections, and common diagnoses (the dys’s)
And, don’t be dys-couraged by the dys’s.
(4 min read)
We need all kinds of diversity— of ages, backgrounds, and talents—to help individuals and society thrive. That said, we’re still working out how to harness our diversity as a strength. It is much easier to find a sense of harmony among similarities but quite another to find unity in diversity. If nature is an example, biodiversity correlates with vibrancy and resilience. How well we treat, value, and work alongside those different from us matters and is a reflection of our community and ourselves. Freedom from prejudice is necessary to cultivate diversity as a strength. Acceptance and a better understanding of neurodiversity are a part of this, too.
Neurodiversity is the term used to explain natural differences in neurocognition—how the central nervous system receives, organizes, processes, and outputs information.
Specific behavioral patterns often correspond to these differences in neurocognition and may be associated with particular diagnoses. While diagnostic terminology uses deficit language, many wonderful traits can accompany individuals with neurodiversity.
Because their differences are neurological and not necessarily physical, individuals with neurodiversity, especially children and youth, can be met with less empathy and tolerance for their differences. Often external expectations, as in educational systems and workplaces, don’t accommodate their needs. This discourages and limits their potential, from which society could otherwise benefit.
These differences have a beauty of character, creativity, and focus, which become accessible when stressful expectations and barriers are removed.
When prejudice, ignorance, and systems aren’t making life harder for them, individuals with neurodiversity can experience the world uniquely and are free to make extraordinary contributions. Temple Grandin is among many who give credit to individuals with neurodiversity throughout history who have been on the cutting edge of innovations and ingenuity in computing, technology, engineering, and artistic and creative pursuits. There are also more minor breakthroughs.
I believe everyone has potential, a talent to cultivate, and a contribution to offer. Unfortunately, children with neurodiversity and their parents hear a lot of “dys’s” like dysfunction, disorder, and deficit. It can help to remember that this is an area where we are developing new understanding, which takes time to seep into social consciousness and influence systems of education and care, to name a few. Parents are on the precipice of this change as society and systems catch up, adding additional responsibilities like educating and advocating.
Don’t be dys-couraged by the dys’s
Some of the “dys’s,” or prevalent conditions associated with neurodivergence, often feel discouraging, so I’ve added recognition of strengths that are often overlooked, as well as highlighting some notable individuals:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition where the levels of neurotransmitters for neural circuits related to motivation, attention, organization, and reward are affected. There is a strong genetic component (passed from parent to child) at 25 percent. Executive functioning within the brain is considered inefficient or delayed in maturity. Challenges may include time management, breaking significant concepts into actionable steps, staying on topic, and transitioning from a hyperfocused state. Typically, these children are kinesthetic learners who may need to move (or fidget) to think, because being still to concentrate is genuinely hard.
Strengths:
Creative and innovative approaches
Ability to hyperfocus on areas of interest
Enthusiastic and energetic
Notable individuals:
Michael Phelps, US Olympic Swimmer
Dav Pilkey, author of Dogman and Captain Underpants comic books
Neil Gaiman, award-winning graphic novelist
Will.i.am, grammy award-winning recording artist
Lisa Ling, journalist
Dyslexia is characterized by impairments in acquiring literacy skills, i.e., it is not a reflection of intelligence. These children may need help learning to read at a good pace without mistakes. Reading comprehension, spelling, and writing may be tricky too. Challenges may include information processing, multi-tasking, and transitions.
Strengths:
Creative, visual thinkers
Dimensional, mechanical skills
Notable individuals:
Albert Einstein, world-renowned scientist
Thomas Edison, world-renowned inventor and scientist
Anderson Cooper, award-winning journalist
Whoopi Goldberg, comedian and entertainer
Dyspraxia affects movement and coordination. Dyspraxia does not affect intelligence.
Strengths:
verbal skills
empathy
Notable individuals:
Daniel Radcliffe, actor
Jamie Oliver, chef
Dyscalculia is characterized by impairments in learning basic arithmetic facts, processing numbers, and performing accurate and fluent calculations. Information processing and multitasking may be a challenge. Again, this is not a reflection of a child’s intelligence.
Strengths:
Creativity
Strategic thinking and problem solving
Verbal skills
Love of words
Intuitive thinking
Notable individuals:
Benjamin Franklin, inventor and founding father of the United States of America
Bill Gates, philanthropist and founder of Microsoft
Cher, singer and actor
Dysgraphia affects written expression and may appear as difficulties with spelling, poor handwriting, and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Again, this is not a measure of intelligence.
Notable individuals:
Albert Einstein, world-renowned scientist
Louis Pasteur, microbial scientist and researcher who developed some of the earliest vaccines—the process of pasteurization is named after him
George Washington, the first President of the United States of America
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition characterized by difficulties in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, restricted or repetitive patterns of thought, interests, and behaviors, as well as sensory sensitivities and motor differences. It is a wide spectrum in relation to intelligence and abilities, and challenges generally include social skills, motor skills, sensory sensitivities, perseverance, inflexibility to changes in routine, and weak central coherence (relish in the details but harder to discern the big picture with detailed information).
Strengths:
Concentration
Logic
Efficiency and directness
Fine detail processing or attention to details
Memory retention
Notable individuals:
Albert Einstein, world-renowned scientist
Bobby Fischer, chess grandmaster
Charles Darwin, biologist and naturalist
Emily Dickenson, poet
Sir Isaac Newton, mathematician and astrophysicist
Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokemon
Synesthesia is a condition in which one sense is simultaneously perceived as one or more different senses. Another form of synesthesia joins objects such as letters, shapes, numbers, or people's names with a sensory perception such as smell, color, or flavor. These children are prone to sensory overload.
Notable individuals:
Kandinsky, modernist artist
Elliott Smith, musician
Duke Ellington, band leader and musician
