What is Neurodivergent?

Last week, I defined the word “neurodiversity.” This week is all about a very similar word: “neurodivergent.” Many people use these words interchangeably, but there is a difference.

What is Neurodivergent?

“Neurodivergent” and/or “neurodivergence” is a word used to describe disorders that impact how the brain processes information.

Webster’s defines it like this:

1. Having or relating to a disorder or condition (such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder) that impacts the way the brain processes information : exhibiting or characteristic of variations in typical neurological development.

The word “neurodivergent” was coined in the 1990’s by an autistic Autism Advocate named Kassiane Asasumasu. She created this word in the United States around the same time that Judy Singer created the word “neurodiversity” in Australia. Asasumasu created this term to recognize and include individuals who were not autistic, but who faced similar challenges due to their non-typical ways of thinking and perceiving.

I find it ironic and humourous that Judy Singer created “neurodiversity” especially for Asperger’s Syndrome, and was not pleased when the word came to refer to all types of brain differences; while Kassiane Asasumasu created the world “neurodivergent” for larger use, but her word is used more restrictively. Language and people are funny sometimes.

Neurodivergence vs Neurodiversity: What’s the Difference?

These two words have a lot in common. They both refer to brain differences. However, “neurodivergent” tends to be a more exclusive term, referring to a smaller circle of brain disorders than the universally applied “neurodiversity.”

The words “neurodivergence”/”neurodivergent” are typically only used to describe a small category of disorders.

“Neurodiversity,” on the other hand, is used to communicate the idea that human brains are unique, varied, and diverse.

So while these words are very similar, “neurodiversity” is the proper word to use when you want a big catch-all term for all sorts of brain differences, and “neurodivergent” is the proper word to use when you are referring specifically to one category of disorders (more on that category in a moment).

That’s the idea, anyway.

Unfortunately, these words came into use around the exact same time, are just so similar, that most people confuse them and use them interchangeably. In most cases, you will need to look for context clues to clarify which meaning someone is using. So, if you have ever used one of these words incorrectly, you are in good company!

What Does “Neurodivergent” Refer To?

What is this smaller category of brain differences that “neurodivergent” refers to?

“Neurodivergent” typically refers to neurological or neurodevelopmental disorders that impact the way the brain processes information. These disorders are sometimes referred to as “wiring differences” or “a different operating system.”

As you can see from the Webster’s definition above, the most commonly recognized brain differences that get referred to as “neurodivergent” are: Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and OCD. Other types of neurodivergence are: Dyscalculia, Processing Disorders, PTSD, FASD, Tourette’s Syndrome, and more.

Some of these brain differences are genetic, and are inherited from parents and grandparents. (ADHD and Autism, for example.) Others are acquired conditions that are not caused by genetics, but by outside factors. (Examples: FASD and PTSD.)

What puts inherited and acquired neurodivergent disorders in the same category, is the way that they affect the brain. Both affect the brain’s “wiring,” and cause a person to develop and operate in ways that are outside of typical range.

Neurodivergent people usually show differences in the way that they:

A. Take in information
B. Process information
and C. Respond to information

Examples:

A. Take In Information:
Someone with an auditory processing disorder may not “hear” or take in all of the information when someone is speaking, even though their physical hearing is fine.

B. Process Information:
Someone with a sensory processing disorder may interpret a gentle tickle as a painful scratch, or the opposite: interpret pain as less severe than it is.

C. Respond To Information:
Someone with PTSD/C-PTSD may over respond to a situation because their brain sensed danger where there wasn’t any, and activated their fear/danger response system.

Why Use the Word “Neurodivergent?”

So, if “neurodivergent” only refers to a certain number of disorders, why use that word instead of just saying the specific disorder that you mean?

There are a number of reasons why someone may chose to use this more broad/more vague term:

For Convenience
Many people have two or more co-occurring conditions.

Neurodivergent disorders are a little bit like Pokemon–some people catch ’em all! Jokes aside, it is very common for someone to have more than one diagnosis. You are more likely to meet someone who has multiple diagnoses, than someone with just one.

For some people, it is simply more convenient to say, “I’m neurodivergent,” than to say, “I’ve been diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and PTSD.”

For Privacy
Individuals don’t owe anyone the details of their medical history.

Just how someone in a wheelchair may tire of the question, “What happened to you?” Many people with neurodivergent disorders get tired of explaining themselves. Saying “I’m neurodivergent” is a sufficient answer that lets them quickly move on without rehashing their personal (and sometimes, traumatic) medical history with nosey people who don’t really need to know.

To Avoid Stigma
Our culture is not kind to people who have mental disorders. There is an inherent fear and bias against anyone who is different. Most neurodivergent people face rejection and stigma, and some face extreme prejudice. There is more of a stigma against FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) for example, than some other disorders, even though the person who has this disorder is not at fault.

For anyone who is exhausted and hurt by the way people perceive and treat them, a vague word like “neurodivergent” can sometimes offer them a temporary shield against some of the judgement.

To Fill the Gap of Incomplete Information
Getting a diagnosis is hard work, time-consuming, and very costly. Many people who are in the processes of getting a diagnosis need to pause for months at a time for their insurance to reset. Others have one diagnosis, but it is clear that it is not the only one they need, and are still working on finding their answers. Others, due to lack of financial means, or lack of quality psychiatry services, may find their diagnosis journey “on hold” indefinitely. Sometimes “neurodivergent” is a good catch-all term that can be used as a placeholder during this process.

Which is easier to say? “I’ve recently found out I’m neurodivergent, and am looking for ways to accommodate my challenges.” Or…

“Well you see, I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, but that’s just piece one of the puzzle. I also have extreme sensory sensitivities, so I’m now in the process of trying to figure out if that’s ASD, or just SPD. Then there’s my meltdowns… my Psychiatrist says these could be autism-related, or they could actually be somatic flashbacks from undiagnosed C-PTSD, but we’ll deal with those after we get clarity on the sensory things. And then, there’s the issue of my academic performance in school. This could, again, be explained by Autism, but I seem to recall that math and the math-heavy sciences were my biggest downfalls, so that could indicate Dyscalcula… but yeah, at the moment, just ADHD. We’ll go again in four months when my insurance year resets. But what was I saying? Oh, right! Instructions! Could I please laminate these instructions and hang them on the wall? Having them visible would help me stay on track.”

I joke/exaggerate, but you get the picture. Neurodivergent is an excellent “catch-all” term for someone whose diagnosis is unclear, or whose needs are multi-faceted.

Summary

The word “neurodivergent” is used to describe people who have brain differences that cause them to take in, process, and respond to, information differently than the average person. It can also be used to describe the disorders themselves, or characteristics of these disorders.

Example Sentences:
Person: “Emma Watson is a neurodivergent actress.”
Disorder: “Someone who is neurodivergent may benefit from a quieter work environment.”
Characteristics: “I noticed several neurodivergent traits, including fidgeting, and frequently interrupting.”

This word typically does not include brain differences like mental health conditions, or levels of intelligence, but some people do apply it more broadly and inclusively. Other people prefer to use the word “neurodiversity” when referring to a large scope of brain differences, and reserve the word “neurodivergent” for more specific disorders.

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