Today’s question is simple to ask, but complex to answer: What does neurodivergent include?

It seems like ever since TikTok hit the scene, the word “neurodivergent” has found its way into the main frame. This is largely due to the recognizable increase in diagnosis of ADHD and autism, but that’s not all there is to neurodiversity.

In fact, when we get down into it, there are dozens of other diagnoses to consider when thinking about neurodivergence.

That’s what we’ll be covering today.

Key Points

• “Neurodivergent” is a mash-up of two parts: “neuro” meaning “brain” and “divergent” meaning “different.”
• Having this term matters because it helps people with different experiences express their unique strengths and challenges.
• There are nearly 30 recognized identities included under the neurodivergent umbrella to date.
• Some neurodivergent people feel disabled, while others do not.
• There is no cure to neurodivergence, nor do we want one.

What Does Neurodivergent Even Mean?

Before we get into what does neurodivergent include, we might as well lay out some ground understandings about what “neurodivergent” even means.

To put it simply, neurodivergent is a mash-up of two parts: “neuro” meaning “brain” and “divergent” meaning “different.”

Keep that in mind: different, not defective.

While neurodivergent may sound medical, it’s actually not a medically-recognized term. That is to say, neurodivergent is not a diagnosis.

Why Does Having This Term Matter?

Even though neurodivergent isn’t a diagnosis, the term is still incredibly important to have, because it supports the point I made above: neurodivergent people are different, not defective.

Having a term that encompasses a broad spectrum of experiences is important because having words to describe your experience empowers you to start learning more about yourself and your differences.

Having a word to describe yourself is the difference between wallowing in self-pity and standing up to support yourself. At least in my experience.

More than that, too, having a term like “neurodivergent” can:

• challenge what we perceive as “normal,” which is traditionally highly critical in medicine
• help create a more nuanced understanding of the human brain (e.g. there is no “normal”)
• oppose “fixing” differences and instead celebrate them

And with that covered, we can finally get to the main point of this blog post: What does neurodivergent include?

What Does Neurodivergent Include?

Neurodivergent is a broad spectrum word to describe the experiences of anybody outside the “typical” (blegh) brain functioning described by doctors and scientists. Funnily enough, these people actually have their own word, too—neurotypical.

To put it simply, if you feel like your brain may function differently, chances are you’re neurodivergent. This can include neurodevelopmental disorders (like autism and ADHD), mental illnesses (like bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder), learning disabilities (like dyslexia), and even no condition at all (like traumatic brain injuries).

Another way of looking at it is noticing your strengths and weaknesses. Do you feel like you have some incredibly strong features and some incredibly lacking features at the same time? This is what’s called a “spiky profile,” meaning you have large “spikes” in ability in some areas and large troughs in others.

All the currently known labels under the neurodivergent umbrella are:

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Cerebral palsy
• Dependent personality disorder
• DiGeorge syndrome
• Down syndrome
• Dyscalculia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
• Fragile X syndrome
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Paranoid personality disorder
• Phenylketonuria (PKU)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Schizophrenia
• Sensory processing disorder
• Social anxiety
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Williams syndrome

If I missed one, please comment below or send me an email at atlaskatari@gmail.com and I’ll get it added to this list as soon as possible.

Are Neurodivergent People Disabled?

Not every neurodivergent person feels disabled, just like not every nonbinary person feels transgender.

In my opinion and experience, I believe neurodivergent people are disabled. But again, this is not because neurodivergent people are defective. I believe this because our society around us is not built for neurodivergence—yet.

What Are Some Signs of Being Neurodivergent?

Did you think the list of what neurodivergent includes was long?

Well, the signs of being neurodivergent would be three times as long (if not more!).

This is because neurodivergence is a spectrum, so inside each individual diagnosis is a broad range of experiences that encompass the one diagnosis.

For example, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) used to have a separate diagnosis called Asperger’s Syndrome. Well, since the differences between the two disorders were so minute, Asperger’s no longer exists as a DSM diagnosis. It has simply been consolidated into one diagnosis (ASD).

So while there are way too many signs to list, the most common ones to look out for are:

• Repetitive behaviors (like locking a door multiple times or rocking back and forth to self-soothe)
• Intense or obsessive interests (that last from childhood into adulthood, typically)
• Social problems (like making or keeping friends)
• Poor eye contact
• Difficulty with communication (like not understanding social cues or simply being nonverbal altogether)
• Issues with focus and concentration (either unable to focus or so completely able to focus they lose track of time)
• Sensory sensitivities (such as loud noises or bright lights)
• Higher levels of creativity or imagination
• Non-linear thinking
• Physical or verbal tics
• Challenges with learning or retaining information
• Difficulty with transitions
• Emotional intensity (or dysregulation)
• High levels of anxiety
• Fixation on routines or rituals

Can You Cure Neurodivergence?

No, and we don’t want to!

How to Move Forward if You Think You’re Included in Neurodivergence

If you think you may be neurodivergent, congratulations!

I know it can be a scary recognition at first; this is not because you are defective, but because your identity is starting to change.

Change in any form is scary—I’ve been there. (If you want to read my full story, click here.)

So, from one neurodivergent person to another, here are the simplest steps forward:

1. Start with accepting yourself as you are.
   1. Symptoms, strengths, and challenges are lifelong—they aren’t going to go away.
2. Seek out diagnosis if you have the means to.
   1. If not, self-diagnosis is entirely valid, because most of us don’t have the access, resources, or money to get a professional diagnosis.
3. Tell your closest friends or family members that you need more support than you’re getting.
   1. This may take time to understand within yourself, so don’t rush into this step.
   2. Do some more research into accommodations that others with your diagnosis/experience are getting, and start there.
4. Join neurodivergent communities like The Daily Divergent or our Discord.

Conclusion

As you’ve learned today, neurodivergent is not a one-size-fits-all label. It encompasses a broad range of identities, diagnoses, and experiences, and yet still not everyone with these experiences will call themselves neurodivergent.

Neurodivergent is not a medical term, it’s a label that helps describe a certain person’s experience. I use it because it helps me express my strengths and challenges with fewer words. Others may use it to find community or get medical help.

All in all, neurodivergent includes a lot, but it still isn’t perfect. It’s a term still in development as our understanding of the human brain continues to develop as a whole.

Do you think you’re neurodivergent?

I’d love to hear your experiences below.