Types of Neurodivergent Disorders: Definition, Signs, and Examples

The term Neurodiversity or Neurodivergence encompasses a range of medical conditions, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, Asperger’s Syndrome, and others. These mental health conditions are considered to be variations in the human brain rather than disorders or diseases. They create neurological differences and affect the behavior of the individual. 

Neurodivergent people often experience the world differently than neurotypical people, i.e., those who do not have a neurological condition or disorder that is considered to be outside the typical range of human neurology. The brain of neurodiverse people processes information differently, impacting their social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. These neuro-differences can be caused by genetic and environmental factors, including prenatal exposure to toxins, genetic mutations, and brain injuries. To know more about the various types of neurodivergent disorders, continue reading.

What is Neurodivergence?

As per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Neurodivergence is not a disorder or an impairment; rather, it is a natural variation in human neurology. It is an umbrella term that encompasses a lot of different syndromes and disorders. And while neurodiverse individuals may face challenges and difficulties in navigating a world designed for neurotypical people, they also bring unique perspectives, strengths, and talents to the table. For example, individuals with autism spectrum disorder may experience difficulty and struggle with social communication or sensory processing, but they have different abilities. They may also have exceptional attention to detail, strong pattern recognition skills, and an ability to think outside the box. Similarly, individuals with dyslexia may have difficulties with reading and writing but may also have strengths in creative thinking, problem-solving, and visual-spatial reasoning.

It is important to recognize that if you have a neurodivergent condition, then you are not broken or in need of “fixing.” Rather, you may require different types of support, accommodations, and understanding to thrive. Some neurotypical people may also view your traits as strange or abnormal, leading to stigma, discrimination, and marginalization. This can make it difficult for you to access education, employment, healthcare, and social support. 

However, there is a growing movement towards the concept of neurodiversity, which seeks to promote acceptance, understanding, and celebration of neurodivergent individuals and their unique perspectives and strengths. The neurodiversity movement recognizes that the group of people with neurodivergent conditions have a valuable role in society and that diversity in neurology is just as important as diversity in culture, race, or gender. One of the goals of the movement is to shift the focus from “curing” or “treating” neurodivergent traits to promoting acceptance, accommodation, and inclusion amongst several different types of neurodiversity. 

In practice, this means creating more inclusive environments in education, employment, healthcare, and social categories. This can include providing accommodations such as flexible work schedules, sensory-friendly environments, or alternative communication methods. It can also involve educating the public about neurodivergent traits and promoting acceptance and understanding. Neurodiversity advocates for acceptance, understanding, and celebration of cognition differences in neurodiverse people and to create more inclusive environments in education, employment, healthcare, and social settings.

Let’s learn about the different neurodivergent disorders.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a developmental disorder usually diagnosed in early childhood. Symptoms can include delayed speech or language development, difficulty in social interactions and communication, repetitive behaviors or interests, and sensory processing issues. While some individuals with ASD may have intellectual disabilities, they also have average or above-average intelligence.

People on the autistic spectrum may have difficulty with social interaction, including problems with understanding and using nonverbal cues, such as eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures. These are considered some of the usual autistic traits. For example, a child with ASD may avoid making eye contact, have difficulty understanding personal space, and struggle with engaging in back-and-forth conversations with peers or family members. Repetitive behaviors, also known as stereotyped behaviors, are also common signs of this condition. 

These behaviors can include repetitive body movements (such as hand flapping or rocking), repetitive vocalizations (such as repeating the same word or phrase), or engaging in the same activities or routines over and over again. Autistic people, or those on the spectrum, may also experience difficulty in various areas of daily life, including relationships, work, and social activities.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition that can make it challenging for individuals to focus, control impulses, and maintain attention for extended periods. A 2013 study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry conducted by JA Venkata and AS Panicker found that 11.32% of Indian children suffer from this condition – much higher than the global estimate. And in the last 10 years, this percentage has only increased. 

While the symptoms of ADHD are well documented, the causes of the disorder are still not fully understood. Several factors have been suggested to contribute to ADHD, including genetics, brain structure, and environmental factors such as prenatal exposure to toxins. It is also important to note that people with this condition are not on the autistic spectrum.

If you have this mental illness, then it is possible that you have difficulty sustaining attention and focus, being organized, following through on tasks, and paying attention to details. You may also struggle with forgetfulness and frequently lose or misplace belongings. For example, a student with this condition may have difficulty staying focused on schoolwork or homework, frequently forget important assignments or appointments, and struggle with organizing their belongings or completing tasks. 

Hyperactivity and impulsivity are other prominent signs of ADHD. You may have trouble sitting still and fidget constantly. It is also possible that you have difficulty controlling impulses, such as making impulsive purchases, engaging in risky behaviors, or making impulsive decisions without considering the long-term consequences.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects one’s mental functions. It impacts their ability to read and write effectively. However, it is not related to intelligence, and people with dyslexia often have average or above-average intelligence.

A child with this condition may have difficulty reading grade-level texts, struggle with recognizing common words, and make frequent reading errors, such as substituting similar-looking words or skipping lines of text. They may also face difficulty spelling words correctly, frequently misspelling words, and struggle with remembering the correct order of letters in words. 

Furthermore, people with dyslexia may have difficulty with phonological awareness skills, such as identifying and blending sounds in words, and may struggle with rhyming, segmenting, or deleting sounds.

Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a form of neurodivergence that affects a person’s ability to plan, coordinate, and execute physical movements. It can impact various aspects of daily life, including fine and gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and spatial awareness. 

People with this condition may have difficulty with fine motor skills, such as buttoning clothes, tying shoelaces, using utensils, or manipulating small objects. They may struggle with tasks such as tying shoelaces, buttoning clothes, or using scissors due to challenges with fine motor coordination. It also affects gross motor skills, such as catching or throwing a ball, riding a bike, or coordinating movements in sports. 

One’s ability to maintain balance and coordinate movements can also be affected, leading to challenges with activities such as hopping, skipping, or navigating through crowded spaces. For example, a person with this condition may struggle with maintaining balance while standing on one foot, navigating through a crowded area without bumping into objects, or judging distances accurately. They may require assistive technology for everyday tasks.

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Developmental Dyscalculia (DD)

Developmental dyscalculia is a specific learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers and mathematical concepts. It is characterized by difficulties with number recognition, counting, numerical reasoning, and mathematical problem-solving skills. Here are some signs and examples of developmental dyscalculia:

• Difficulty with basic number concepts: A child with this condition may struggle with counting objects, recognizing numbers, understanding the concept of “more” or “less,” and ordering numbers from smallest to largest.
• Challenges with arithmetic operations: An individual with dyscalculia may struggle with basic arithmetic operations, such as adding or subtracting numbers, memorizing multiplication tables, and understanding the relationships between numbers in mathematical equations.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects a person’s ability to write legibly and fluently. It is often characterized by handwriting, spelling, and overall written expression difficulties. This neurological condition can affect both children and adults, and it can occur independently or as part of a larger neurodevelopmental condition such as dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

One of the major signs of this condition is difficulty to read, with inconsistent letter formation, size, spacing, and slant. For example, letters may be poorly formed, squeezed together, or unevenly spaced. Additionally, people with dysgraphia may struggle to accurately copy text from a source, such as a whiteboard, a textbook, or a piece of paper, due to difficulties with letter formation, spacing, and alignment.

Irlen Syndrome

Irlen Syndrome, also known as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome or Meares-Irlen Syndrome, is a condition that affects how the brain processes visual information, specifically related to sensitivity to light and visual patterns. It is not considered a learning disability but a perceptual processing disorder that can impact reading, writing, and other visual tasks.

People with this syndrome may be overly sensitive to bright or fluorescent lights, which can cause discomfort, eye strain, headaches, or other visual symptoms. They may prefer dim or natural lighting environments. Distortions in the perception of visual patterns, such as words or text appearing to move, blur, or distort on the page, are also common signs of this condition. For example, letters or words may appear to jump, wiggle, or disappear when reading.

Hyperlexia

Hyperlexia is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by an advanced ability to read at an early age, typically before age five, combined with difficulties in language comprehension, social communication, and interaction. Children with this condition often exhibit an early and advanced ability to read, sometimes even before the age of two. They may have a strong interest in letters, numbers, and words and may be able to decode and read words beyond their age level. People with this disorder may rely on echolalia as a way to communicate but may have difficulty with spontaneous and meaningful language use. They might also lack the required social skills.

Tourette’s Syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements or vocalizations called tics. Tics are sudden, rapid, and brief movements or sounds that are often difficult to control. Involuntary movements of the body (motor tics), involuntary sounds or vocalizations (vocal tics), and other complex tics like jumping, spinning, hitting oneself, or repeating specific phrases or sentences are all common signs.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by the presence of recurring, intrusive thoughts or obsessions and repetitive behaviors or compulsions. Examples of obsessions include fear of contamination or germs, excessive concern about order or symmetry, unwanted thoughts of harming oneself or others, or persistent doubts about everyday tasks such as locking the door or turning off appliances. Examples of compulsions include excessive handwashing or cleaning, repetitive checking of locks or appliances, arranging objects in a specific way, counting or repeating certain words or phrases, or engaging in rituals or routines to prevent harm or bad outcomes.

Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a phenomenon where one sensory or cognitive pathway stimulates involuntary experiences in another pathway. In other words, it is a condition where the stimulation of one sense triggers experiences in another sense. Synesthetic experiences are consistent and repeatable for an individual. For example, every time a person hears a specific sound, they may always see a specific color in response. These experiences are involuntary, meaning the person does not actively choose or control them. They occur spontaneously and automatically in response to sensory stimuli. For example, the letter “A” may always appear red, and the number “3” may always appear green.

Get Help From a Trusted Therapist With DocVita Today

Regardless of your condition or disorder, it is important to remember that recovery and rehabilitation are gradual processes – but you don’t have to go through them alone. In cases of traumatic brain injury, medical intervention becomes a must.

DocVita is one of its kind platform that puts you in direct contact with a host of experienced mental health professionals who can assist your journey. So what are you waiting for? Book a session with one of our professionals today. Our experts can help you with different approaches to tackle your particular neurodevelopmental disorder.

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