Introduction
The term neurotypical is applied to people with typical brain structures who think, behave, and process information based on what is typical. In contrast, neurodivergent is an umbrella term for people with different brain structures. The mental functions of people who come under neurodivergent are very different from neurotypicals and themselves. Laura Tisoncik, an autistic advocate, coined the term neurotypical, and the term neurodiversity was first used by an Australian autistic sociologist Judy Singer in 1998. 15-20% of the world population is considered neurodivergent, which implies that most people are neurotypical. Both neurotypical and neurodivergent are not medical terms but are often used as a motive for including people with neurodevelopmental conditions.
What Is Neurotypical?
Neurotypical refers to individuals with typical brain development and function. They develop social, behavioral, and communicative skills at the same age as most peers. Neurotypical individuals are not associated with any brain conditions or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
What Is Neurodivergent?
As the term suggests, neurodivergent means diversity in neurological functions. Individuals who come under neurodivergent exhibit variations in learning, thinking, behaving, processing, etc. which is attributed to their different brain structure compared to neurotypicals.
What Are the Characteristics of Neurotypical Individuals?
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Achieving developmental milestones such as walking, speaking, etc., at an age similar to other children.
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No delay in cognitive skills like learning, reading, visual processing, problem-solving, etc.
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Ability to interact efficiently with peers.
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Can understand facial expressions, body language, and social cues.
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Can adapt to the changes in routine.
What Are the Characteristics of Neurodivergent Individuals?
Neurodivergent individuals exhibit a wide variety of brain functions. Autism Spectrum Disorder is the most common neurodivergent condition. Some of the characteristics of neurodivergent children and adults are;
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Delay in developmental milestones
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Avoiding eye contact
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Repetitive behavior
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Not able to concentrate for long hours
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Hyperactivity or inactivity
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Finds trouble interacting with their peers
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Problems with remembering things
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Difficult to understand emotions
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Lacks empathy
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Lack of attention
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Fixed to a routine
These are the symptoms of various neurodivergent conditions. Of course, a neurodivergent person doesn't need to exhibit all these symptoms. Some may exhibit, some may not, and some will exhibit characteristics other than these.
Which Conditions Come Under Neurodivergent?
A wide spectrum of developmental brain diseases come under neurodivergent conditions. The following are the common neurodivergent conditions;
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): An autistic person faces challenges in social, behavioral, and communicative skills. Autism is not an intellectual disability or mental disorder. They may even exhibit superior talent or skills in particular subjects or fields compared to neurotypicals.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): ADHD is considered the most common mental illness in children. Children with ADHD are hyperactive and impulsive and suffer difficulty in paying attention.
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Dyslexia: Dyslexia is a learning disorder with a delay in speaking and learning to read and write. Dyslexic children confuse spellings and the order of letters in a word.
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Dyscalculia: This is also a learning disorder where the child suffers with numbers, counting, and other arithmetic skills. They often struggle to understand mathematical concepts and experience anxiety because of math.
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Tourettes' syndrome: Also called tic disorder, Tourettes' syndrome is a neurological disorder with symptoms like sudden twitches, jerks, eye-rolling, jumping, or making sounds repeatedly.
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Down's Syndrome: It is a genetic disorder that occurs due to the presence of an extra chromosome with chromosome 21. Hence, it is also known as trisomy 21. The characteristics of Down's syndrome are short stature, small head, upward slanting eyelids, poor muscle tone, etc. They have mild to moderate lower IQ.
Do Mental Disorders Come Under Neurodivergent?
People with mental illness exhibit variations in thought processes. When brain developmental conditions are included in neurodivergence, including mental disorders is still creating a dilemma in the neurodiversity movement. However, people with mental illness also exhibit thought-process variations due to different brain chemistry compared to neurotypicals. Hence mental disorders also come under neurodivergence. Common mental health disorders are;
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Anxiety Disorder: People with anxiety disorder suffer from severe anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, difficulty concentrating, etc.
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Depression: It is a disorder that causes persistent sadness. It affects women more than men. Insomnia, low self-esteem, loss of interest in many activities, etc., are the common signs of depression.
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Schizophrenia: It is a severe mental disorder in which a patient experiences delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, unusual habits, etc.
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD is a mental illness affecting individuals of any age group. Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors characterize it.
What Are the Challenges Faced by Neurodivergent Individuals in Society?
The common issues faced by neurodivergent individuals are anxiety, bullying, lack of support, communication problems, etc. Due to social stigma and bullying, they often mask their condition in schools, colleges, or workplaces. They are also at risk for developing stress and anxiety due to avoidance by their peers.
What Is the Neurodiversity Movement?
The neurodiversity movement came into existence during the 1990s. It originated from the Autistic Rights Movement. The goal of the neurodiversity movement was to accept and include everyone, regardless of their neurological differences, while also embracing them. An Australian sociologist named Judy Singer coined the term 'neurodiversity' to address people with neurological conditions rather than addressing them as people with disability.
What Is Special About Being a Neurodivergent Person?
A neurodivergent person may have superior abilities in some fields or different abilities as compared to a neurotypical person. Studies found that many neurodivergent individuals are great at visualizing, creativity, and lateral thinking. They can think outside the conventional framework, which most neurotypicals may not. It is because of the difference in their brain wiring. Many neurodivergent people have proven their skills in arts and science. The number of neurodivergent scientists who made great contributions are not less. The acceptance of neurodiversity in many companies has improved productivity. There are a lot of CEOs who are neurodivergent.
How to Support Neurodivergent Individuals?
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It is important to remain calm and patient while talking to a neurodivergent person. Please don't force them to speak. Let them take their own time to prepare for a talk.
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Try to use simple language.
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Avoid using euphemisms or sarcasm while talking.
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Use the communication method that they prefer. Some may be comfortable with writing or texting rather than speaking.
Conclusion
Neurotypical is the term used to describe people who think, behave, and perceives according to typical societal norms, while neurodivergent is the term used to address people with opposite characteristics. The main purpose of the neurodiversity movement is to include and accept all neurological variations and address the social stigma linked with neurological disorders. If given opportunity and support, neurodivergent individuals can also make greater achievements in life.
