Neurodiversity

Iam64

I’m from a family with a number of neuro diverse individuals,
Its good to see adhd, ASD , dyslexia and more recognised,

I completely agree. I found having an explanation for my differences was such a relief. For example, to have an understanding of why my handwriting was so bad, despite my many and freuent efforts to improve it.

I think it’s rubbish. Everyone is different. We just like to label people these days.

I think Neurodiverse the new normal. Why does everyone have to have a label, we are all different.

Gran22boys

I think it’s rubbish. Everyone is different. We just like to label people these days.

No, it isn't rubbish. Have you any experience of dyslexia?. ADHD was recognised and defined in the first decade of the 20th century, dyspraxia, and other problems were recognised in the 1970s. What does puzzle me is the way that neurodiversity has suddenly hit the headlines. It also concerns me.

I saw an article recently that said some parents actualy want one of their children to be diagnosed as neurodiverse, so that they can be one of the in-crowd. I do suspect now, and others better ualified and more knowledgable than me, have also said it, that there is now an element of over diagnosis occurring, especially of ADHD

Gran22boys, what is the difference between a label and a diagnosis? Would you refuse a diagnosis if you had cancer because you would be labelled by it?

Gran22boys, diagnosing is not rubbish. We accept that physical health problems can be diagnosed and treated, why not mental health problems?

Unfortunately there is a lot of over diagnosis The NHS has been so overwhelmed and they do strenuous testing over a period of time lasting weeks or more, hence the long waiting list This work is now outsourced to private companies through GPs ( still NHS) who do very limited tests probably 2 hours, some online even, and are being diagnosed as Neurodiverse We are all different and I m sure most of us could tick many boxes
I m not taking away from those who need the help just saying it is being over diagnosed in many who do not need a diagnosis

Neurodivergence is not rubbish

GrannyGravy13

Neurodivergence is not rubbish

No not at all. We have a GD diagnosed with autism, it isn’t just a fashion or trend she really struggles on a day to day basis and her diagnosis has made a big difference to her experiences at school, previously our DiL was thinking of home schooling. I my day when I was at school children with learning difficulties due to neurodivergence were labelled as backward or trouble makers, I think the labels we use today are far more positive.

BlueBelle, do you have research based evidence to support your claim of over diagnosis? Im retired so not up to date but im relieved three of my grandchildren have been recognised as neurodiverse. It’s supporting school but also parents . My mantra working with children and families was ‘some children are easier to bring up than others ‘

I wish the parents if one forty year old family members had recognised adhd/dyslexia and more in their little boy. Their punitive approach didn’t help him or them

I don’t think the all encompassing term of “neuro-diverse” is at all helpful actually.

Diverse is a judgement based on the idea of a norm. So going back to the original post, who makes the judgement that going from one interest to another in a short space of time is “diverse” and not normal.

Increasingly short attention span and multiple tasking is becoming the “norm” in work and social settings. Soon it will be an essential of functioning effectively in everyday life and the person that needs time to focus on one element will be the diverse one that is at a disadvantage.

I think diagnoses should focus on the specific eg dyslexia, dyspraxia not the meaningless term of neuro-diverse.

Neurodiverse is an umbrella term Lathyrus

Just like Orthopaedics, Obstetrics, Cardiology and even Cancer are umbrella terms.

We have a high function autistic GC, their everyday life struggles are enormous, we have a GC with dyspraxia they have different challenges, but they are still challenges.

We also have immediate family with ADHD, they also have hurdles (sometimes mountains) to climb each day.

I find the dismissive comments by yourself and others on this thread really hurtful.

Would you dismiss someone’s pain with a broken leg, appendicitis etc.?

At 61, I suspect I have discalculia. Growing up, it was a source of great embarrassment. I had one fantastic teacher, Miss Hall, who arranged for me to take an arithmetic exam, which I just about scraped through, so I had some sort of numerical qualification. Other teachers clearly just decided I was thick.

That never made sense to me. I excelled at other subjects, English, History. Sciences were a no-no.

I was awarded national first place in the RSA stage III English category at college. Miss Hall came to the ceremony 😊

It wasnt meant to be dismissive at all Grannygravy. Honestly.

I mean just like an umbrella term “cancer” wouldn’t be at all helpful to the individual patient in determining support and treatment, I don’t think ‘neuro-diverse’ is helpful to the individuals affected either.

I hope that’s clearer what I meant.

Basgetti

At 61, I suspect I have discalculia. Growing up, it was a source of great embarrassment. I had one fantastic teacher, Miss Hall, who arranged for me to take an arithmetic exam, which I just about scraped through, so I had some sort of numerical qualification. Other teachers clearly just decided I was thick.

That never made sense to me. I excelled at other subjects, English, History. Sciences were a no-no.

I was awarded national first place in the RSA stage III English category at college. Miss Hall came to the ceremony 😊

So have I. I’m 80 and I came across an article when I was in my 30s.
It’s a constant form of amusement in the family as they maths all maths geniuses.
It wasn’t always funny.
In my last year of juniors the teacher teaching maths got so angry at my inability to grasp maths he hit me so hard round the head my glasses went flying. Those were the days when they employed sadists.
Unbeknown to me my mother got to hear of the assault.
Afternoon session had started and in comes my mother.
Lots of verbal from her and then she grabbed his shirt and whacked him one round the head.
I was just grateful that it wasn’t my father. He would have killed him. I’m not exaggerating.
A couple of years later we heard that this sadist had assaulted a child so badly he was sent to prison.

Lathyrus3

It wasnt meant to be dismissive at all Grannygravy. Honestly.

I mean just like an umbrella term “cancer” wouldn’t be at all helpful to the individual patient in determining support and treatment, I don’t think ‘neuro-diverse’ is helpful to the individuals affected either.

I hope that’s clearer what I meant.

Do you think all umbrella terms are unhelpful?

Being diagnosed as neurodivergent is extremely helpful to children of school age.

In some, not all cases they get a statement which ensures (or should) that they get educated in an environment the child can navigate and understand.

When you are asked by a five year old, am I different or when reaching senior school the tormenting, bullying and physical assaults they endure on a daily basis. Then they struggle with puberty and a feeling of alienation from their peers and the outside world.

I am pleased that these children and adults are finally being recognised and getting the help and hopefully the understanding of others.

Everyone is neuro-diverse to some extent as no two people process things the same (I have a background in scientific research).
The difference is that now more complex conditions, such as ADHD, ASD etc are recognised and diagnosed.
There is no doubt these conditions did exist in times gone by/when we were of school age, but were not understood in the way they are today, they were sadly just dismissed as a bit 'slow' or 'naughty'.
That said, it seems most parents seem to want their child to have some kind of neurodiversity since it can lead to EHCP's, help at school and extra benefits if they claim.
I do wonder if less diagnoses will be made when the changes to EHCP's etc are only given to those with the most severe cases as is the current plan?

DancingDuck who and where are these parents who want to saddle their children with an unnecessary label?

GG13 I agree with everything you say.

We have one DGD with a diagnosis of Autism and because of that diagnosis she was given immense help at senior school.
We have watched her struggles with isolation, lack of friendships and bullying.

We believe her younger sister has ADHD. She too is struggling but in a totally different way.

No one wants their child labelled but it does get them the help they need to navigate the world they live in.

GrannyGravy13

DancingDuck who and where are these parents who want to saddle their children with an unnecessary label?

There have been several reports about parents wanting children classified as neurally diverse, for benefits but also for the eclat it gives the parents able to hold pole position in their peer group because of this. You have only to read stories of the other things parents will do to their children to make them musical or maathematical geniuses to know that some parents are uite capable of 'saddling' a child with a neural diversity. Whether there is any truth in these reports, I do not know.

I am of the opposite persuasion, I think that while neurally diverse children may need some help in learning to live with their neural diversity, having them classified as being SEND, does not help, except in extreme cases.

Neural diversity is or has been present in at least 4 generations of my family. Two generations had to live with finding our own salvation. 2 have had some measure of recognition, but the problems have been dealt with without any special classification. and minimal adjustments by the school.

GrannyGravy13

DancingDuck who and where are these parents who want to saddle their children with an unnecessary label?

There are plenty around otherwise there would not be so many diagnoses since it takes years to get assessed. If parents did not want the diagnosis then they would not put their children forward. There are several in my own extended family, who want a diagnosis so they can attribute their childs behaviors to a condition and also get the extra benefits associated.

Iam64

BlueBelle, do you have research based evidence to support your claim of over diagnosis? Im retired so not up to date but im relieved three of my grandchildren have been recognised as neurodiverse. It’s supporting school but also parents . My mantra working with children and families was ‘some children are easier to bring up than others ‘

I wish the parents if one forty year old family members had recognised adhd/dyslexia and more in their little boy. Their punitive approach didn’t help him or them

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2778451

bjgp.org/content/73/733/358

My family have been and are going through a hellish time with a struggling child, yet to be ‘labelled’ thanks.

No way would any of us chosen this situation.

GrannyGravy13

Neurodiverse is an umbrella term Lathyrus

Just like Orthopaedics, Obstetrics, Cardiology and even Cancer are umbrella terms.

We have a high function autistic GC, their everyday life struggles are enormous, we have a GC with dyspraxia they have different challenges, but they are still challenges.

We also have immediate family with ADHD, they also have hurdles (sometimes mountains) to climb each day.

I find the dismissive comments by yourself and others on this thread really hurtful.

Would you dismiss someone’s pain with a broken leg, appendicitis etc.?

Thanks for expressing this so clearly.

Gran22boys

I think it’s rubbish. Everyone is different. We just like to label people these days.

NO. Neurodiversity is not rubbish.

Yes, everyone is different. It's important to recognize diversity.

Yes, ADHD may be over diagnosed. Awareness is good.

My husband has a difficulty with numbers. Not dyscalculia. He's clever, understands his work, transposes the numbers. I review all numbers, make all bids. We can't afford to have him submit wrong bids.

I'm fortunate, ADD hasn't impacted me much. I can lose focus and waste time (GN when I should be cleaning) but I usually cope quite well.

Many people have conditions disrupting their life, diagnosis may be useful in managing and understanding their neurodiversity.

I’m afraid I still see neuro-diverse” as too wide a term to actually be meaningful in terms of the needs of the individual.

Perhaps we are talking at cross purposes but I think you you said something similar when you referred to your grandchildren, one with dyspraxia, one with autism and the very different challenges they face.

That is my point really. They need their individual diagnoses that pinpoints the problems and the struggles.

When neuro diverse can mean their conditions and a host of other conditions
as well, what meaning does it actually hold, in practice.

I’m open to an explanation that will show how a such a wide umbrella diagnostic term is more effective than a specific diagnosis, but I can’t see it at the moment.

Personally I am glad that my child received support specific to his condition rather than just being labelled diverse.