What is neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is a reference to the natural diversity of human cognitive functioning; the fact that we all have differently wired brains.

This umbrella term, coined by the sociologist Judy Singer, recognises that our society is made up of individuals with more typical cognitive processing (Neurotypical) and individuals who diverge from this societal typicality (Neurodivergent).

Neurodiversity recognises that individuals might have a profound difference in ability for different tasks, both positively and negatively, and that if we understand this, we can create environments, products and services which accommodate everyone’s abilities and preferences, whether neurotypical or neurodivergent.

Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of neurocognitive developmental conditions including autism spectrum conditions (ASCs), dyslexia, dyspraxia / developmental coordination disorder (DCD), attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia and Tourette syndrome.

Research studies typically estimate that approximately 15–20% of the population worldwide is neurodivergent. However, improvements in diagnostic assessments, especially in adulthood, alongside notable developments in awareness raising and destigmatization practices that encourage greater testing and disclosure over recent years, suggest that the actual rate of neurodivergence may be higher.

What are the percentages of these neurocognitive conditions within the global population?

- Dyslexia up to 10% (20% in the USA)

- Dyspraxia / DCD is estimated up to 6%

- ADHD around 5% worldwide (8 - 10% in the USA)

- Autism between <1 and 1.6% (prevelence affected by diagnostic criteria and access to services) around 3% (2.77%) in the USA.

Neurodivergent conditions co-occur at very high rates. In most cases, if someone has a profile of one SpLD such as dyslexia, they are more likely than not to have at least one other neurodivergent condition.

How can these SpLDs impact adults in the workplace and life in general?

Dyslexia

Commonly found negative traits and difficulties:

  • Literacy, memory, organization, communication and self-esteem

  • Organizational skills, time management, stress management

  • Workplace participation in terms of mental functions and social interactions

  • Cognitive functioning and social self-esteem

  • Higher incidence of worklessness and incarceration.

Commonly found positive traits and strengths:

  • Entrepreneurialism

  • Innovative thinking, creativity and cognitive control

  • Visual reasoning

  • Practical skills, visual-spatial skills

  • Story-telling ability.

Dyspraxia/DCD

Commonly found negative traits and difficulties:

  • Persistence of motor difficulties in operating equipment

  • Difficulties with driving, self-care, organization, communication and self-esteem

  • Processing speed and working memory.

Commonly found positive traits and strengths:

  • High verbal comprehension ability.

ADHD

Commonly found negative traits and difficulties:

  • Time management

  • Concentration, attention and self-regulation difficulties

  • Insomnia, depression, injury and absence

  • Maintaining employment

  • Difficulty with teamwork.

Commonly found positive traits and strengths:

  • Creative thinking

  • Innovative thinking

  • Visual-spatial reasoning ability

  • Hyper-focus, passion and courage.

Source: Adapted from the British Psychological Society’s 2017 report, describes reported work-related strengths and weaknesses associated with the four main neurominorities.

BPS Psychology at Work. Leicester: British Psychological Society, 2017 [Google Scholar]

“We need to admit that there is no standard brain”

— Thomas Armstrong in his pivotal work The Power of Neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity Quotes

  • "Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will be best at any given moment?"

    Harvey Blume in The Atlantic in 1998 – in what is believed to be one of the first uses of the term ‘neurodiversity’ in print.

  • "Neurodiversity is: - a state of nature to be respected - an analytical tool for examining social issues - an argument for the conservation and facilitation of human diversity."

    Judy Singer 2020