Neurodivergent vs neurotypical

[Weemie]

And I am not sure IQ got involved.

Well, it gets involved because you're using terms like stupid/intelligent. And I'm explaining that having a high IQ has its own difficulties, and that these terms aren't fair to use. If you agree that they aren't fair, then I recommend finding different terms to use.

 

[silverlinings1069]

these terms aren't fair to use. If you agree that they aren't fair, then I recommend finding different terms to use.

I do agree, hence the information I'm gathering on ND and NT so I don't have to use those terms. I did apologize earlier for the terms. I'm sorry if it was a trigger for you. This is really an information gathering thread for me. Do you think NT and ND are appropriate? If not, I would like to hear your take as to why not. I would also like recommendations that you think might be better than NT and ND if there is something we missed. Terms that you feel comfortable with. Thank you for your input.

 

[Weemie]

Do you think NT and ND are appropriate

I do, yeah. :)

 

[silverlinings1069]

I do, yeah. :)

Thank you. I really appreciate your feedback.

 

[Nessa7]

I was recently informally diagnosed with autism. In my current circumstances, I don't see a point to pursuing a formal diagnosis. I haven't really talked to many people other than my therapist about it, but I do think that "neurodivergent" might be useful for me as I start talking about it more.

I think neurodivergent is also a useful term for advocacy, so that people that need similar accommodations can campaign for change collectively instead of individually.

My experience being treated for PTSD and being neurodivergent is that I've been very lucky. My therapist specialized in working with neurodivergent children before pivoting to trauma, so she has been able to modify her methods for me without me knowing about it.

 

[silverlinings1069]

I was recently informally diagnosed with autism. In my current circumstances, I don't see a point to pursuing a formal diagnosis. I haven't really talked to many people other than my therapist about it, but I do think that "neurodivergent" might be useful for me as I start talking about it more.

I can relate. I'm going to talk to mine this week. I have no idea if she knows anything about this. Do you think a therapist that is aware of this (ND/NT) is beneficial?

At this point in the game, I do not need an official diagnosis either. But wondering about the therapist and the possible benefits.

 

[KayW]

I don't think that a label that divides all people into 2 categories is going to be very useful because there just are more than 2 types of people.

Understanding the unique characteristics that people with ADHD typically experience, or ADD or the variation along the autistic spectrum can be useful to understand self and others and help move away from judging people along the lines of better than/ worse than.

 

[silverlinings1069]

help move away from judging people along the lines of better than/ worse than.

Im not sure I understand what you mean. Can you elaborate? I do not see where using NT/ND is a judging way of thinking or how it leads to a better/worse than scenario. I think my use of "stupid", because I did not have a better term my entire life, is way more judgy, which is why I would rather use ND/NT. Those terms to me do not connotate better/worse, it just differentiates between the way your brain works and the way my brain works. And having terms such as ND/NT makes it so much easier to explain myself rather than having to give a monologue about myself that NT people really don't want to hear anyway. (Trust me, I do have experience in this.) Also, it allows my brain to accept you as you are if I know you are NT. I can adjust my way of communication if needed. (Decades of learning how to "fit in".) I could be way off base though. Thank you for your post.

 

[Nessa7]

I can relate. I'm going to talk to mine this week. I have no idea if she knows anything about this. Do you think a therapist that is aware of this (ND/NT) is beneficial?

At this point in the game, I do not need an official diagnosis either. But wondering about the therapist and the possible benefits.

I think having a therapist with experience with autism has been helpful for me, but I don't know that I would seek one out if I was otherwise happy with who I was seeing.

 

[KayW]

it just differentiates between the way your brain works and the way my brain works. And having terms such as ND/NT makes it so much easier to explain myself rather than having to give a monologue about myself

There are so many differences between conditions that come under that umbrella term that it wouldn't really help anyone understand someone any better. If people use the term related to their diagnosis, such as ADHD, ADD, autistic traits... to non- verbal autism etc, then that enables people who need to understand them better to learn about that condition.

Im not sure I understand what you mean. Can you elaborate? I do not see where using NT/ND is a judging way of thinking

Using those terms isn't a judging way of thinkin, but when you apply terms that categorize all people into only 2 types it's impossible to make realistic judgements and tends to go down the route of judging one type more favourably than the other.

 

[Sideways]

when you apply terms that categorize all people into only 2 types it's impossible to make realistic judgements and tends to go down the route of judging one type more favourably than the other.

No more so than referring to people as, for example, Diabetic/Not Diabetic. It’s simply grouping people together who are on the spectrum, which relates to a specific way that a person brain works in relation to particular types of stimulus response.

 

[Rose White]

I read a definition that seemed really helpful to me. “Neurodivergent is a neologism that seeks to de-pathologize neurodevelopmental disorders in favor of a social model of disability.” So it categorizes people into two types the same way that disabled/abled does. There may or may not be a signification of worth depending on the person saying the word and their intent.