Neurodiversity is a term used to describe the various ways a person’s brain thinks, behaves, and feels. Given that no two brains are alike, you might conclude that the term refers to the diverse experiences across the entire population. That, however, is not the case.
While every brain is unique, not every brain is considered neurodiverse. Instead, neurodiversity focuses on the experience of people who have neurological differences in their brain. These differences can result from genetic, developmental, or environmental factors (e.g., head injuries). But when we talk about neurodiversity among school-age children, the term generally refers to the array of learning challenges that some children experience. Examples include kids with ADHD (ADHD: An Overview), LD (Learning Disabilities: What They Are and What They’re Not), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and a host of other brain differences that make it difficult to apply cognitive skills to a particular task such as learning to read (dyslexia) calculating math equations (dyscalculia), and emotional regulation (ADHD).
How did the term “neurodiversity” become mainstream?
Neurodiversity crept into the mainstream in the 1990s as a period of heightened self-advocacy coincided with the rise of online forums. A group of people with ASD gathered on one of these forums and coined the term “neurological diversity,” which soon was shortened to “neurodiversity.”
The term caught on, and as social media flourished, people with similar differences flocked to these, and other online forums to share their experiences and stories, accompanied by neurodiverse content creators who spread awareness and advocated for their communities. Additionally, neurodiverse characters began to make their way into pop culture (e.g., The Good Doctor and Julia from Sesame Street), and eventually corporate reform joined the conversation as CEOs came to recognize that “different” did not mean “inferior.” Cases in point: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, two neurodiverse geniuses who ushered in the Age of Technology.
Why is this relevant to my child?
Today, children themselves are more open to talking about their learning differences, advocating for themselves, and making room for their strengths. The term neurodiversity is used mainly to raise awareness of different cognitive processes and thought patterns. The term is bandied about in school meetings, especially when talking about the unique needs of struggling learners. With a push for greater classroom inclusion, more kids are staying with their same-age peers throughout the day, but are given lessons tailored to their actual abilities. While this doesn’t happen across the board yet, it is an ideal that schools continue to strive for.
How can I support my neurodiverse child?
When working with your neurodiverse child, remind them that no two learners or brains process information the same. As a parent, you can help normalize the trial-and error proccess of learning. It’s important to affirm to your child that everyone needs something different to succeed and that is okay. As your child matures, take it up a notch by helping them identify what works best for them and what does not socially and academically. Finally, you can encourage them to advocate for themselves at school, helping them craft age-appropriate language to describe their needs and strengths.
Viral social media posts will continue to spread awareness and acceptance of the uniqueness of the human experience. It’s important, however, to teach your child to use a critical lens when seeing neurodiverse information spread on social media. Help children to see the positives and the negatives associated with the content. It is equally important to have open and honest dialogue about identifying truth from myth and how they can tell the difference online. Spreading misinformation can be hurtful to people who are neurodiverse. Also, not all topics are as one sided as social media may lead us to believe. When we watch videos with our children we can speak about these issues.
Learning challenges such as LD and ADHD are among the most talked about childhood diagnoses online. While this is fantastic for spreading inclusivity, community, and awareness, parents and professionals must recognize that not all information spread online is accurate. Further, self-diagnosing is not recommended because it can lead to inaccurate representation of one’s own symptoms. When looking to social media make sure to do your own research with resources in your community (e.g., your child’s school or pediatrician) or peruse reliable websites such as Smart Kids with hundreds of well-researched articles by experts in the field of LD, ADHD, and other learning issues.
Dr. Erin Micali is a senior postdoctoral fellow at Sasco River Center in Darien, CT who specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. Her focus areas include neurodevelopmental disorders and early childhood evaluations.