Fact or fiction: Neurodivergence edition
For years, the medical community knew little about neurodiversity. For instance, many believed that Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism (ASD) only arose in early childhood and that diagnoses given later in life were invalid. Over the past several years, however, our understanding of neurodivergence and how it shows up for each individual has come a long way. While we always have so much to learn, let’s shed some light on some truths and myths!
Fiction: ADHD and ASD only come up during childhood.
Many picture the hyperactive 7 year old boy who struggles to sit still in class when they think of ADHD. While this is an entirely valid presentation of ADHD, that’s sometimes missing the mark!
ADHD and ASD are being identified more and more in young adulthood into adulthood (Grosvenor et al., 2024).
Media depictions of these presentations in the past were often overgeneralized into caricatures of what being neurodivergent *actually looks like*. Representation of diverse experiences is vital to feeling seen, and there are all sorts of new tv shows and movies to reflect this mosaic of presentations (stay tuned for more info on these).
Fact: If you’ve met one neurodivergent person you’ve… met one neurodivergent person.
Neurodivergence comes in a zillion shapes and sizes, just like every nuanced personality trait, every facial expression, or every individual’s mannerisms.
When we overgeneralize individuals’ experiences into one clump, we run the risk of doing harm and ostracizing the neurodivergent community.
Many people who are neurodivergent engage in what are called “masking” behaviors, sort of mirroring neurotypical behaviors, to coexist in a neurotypical world.
Fiction: There is no discrepancy in diagnosis among genders.
Gender non-conforming or gender diverse individuals have higher rates of associating with neurodivergent traits, especially ASD (Dattaro, 2020).
Individuals who were assigned female at birth (AFAB) are more frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed based on higher rates of masking behaviors and different presentations than the stereotypical presentation (Pachowicz, 2020).
Fact: Building a supportive community of others with shared interests and experiences is an invaluable tool for individuals that feel stigmatized and isolated.
While this may be the case, some people who are neurodivergent have difficulty making connections, reading social cues, initiating or maintaining dialogue, or knowing how to express themselves.
Sometimes connection online feels the most comfortable for those who feel initially overwhelmed by building friendships or community connections. This is also a great place to find groups of people who get it!
Fiction: Neurodiverse people are not “intelligent” or able to function independently.
Wrong! Howard Gardner (2011) proposes that there are nine types of intelligence (beyond what we may generally consider) and that all humans possess an amalgamation of these including: bodily-kinesthetic, existential, interpersonal awareness, intrapersonal awareness, linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, naturalist, and spatial. Neurodivergent people might possess intelligence in all of these areas or some of these areas that we often overlook.
People who are neurodivergent may benefit from varying levels of support - some people who are neurodivergent do require supportive care 24/7, but not all. However, there is *nothing* wrong about benefiting from around the clock care when needed. We need to remove the stigma around needing support!
If you or a loved one is neurodivergent and could benefit from counseling, give us a call! Our team is made up of clinicians with years of experience with neurodivergent individuals, and we are happy to help.
References
Dattaro, L. (2015). Largest study to date confirms overlap between autism and gender diversity. Spectrum. https://doi.org/10.53053/WNHC6713
Grosvenor, L.P. et al. (2024, Oct 1). Autism diagnosis among US children and adults. JAMA Network Open, 7(10). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.42218
Pachowicz, M. (2020). Neurodivergence in AFAB individuals. Trinity women’s review, 4(1). Retrieved from https://www.esr.ie/index.php/TrinityWomensReview/article/view/2076
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center. (2022, May 26). Multiple intelligence theory. https://www.uthsc.edu/tlc/intelligence-theory.php