Neurodivergence Is Not A New Trend

Gemma Gradwell

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Social media has exploded with mentions of neurodivergence in recent years. While this surge in interest has formed a supportive online community, it brings non-neurotypical experiences to the attention of the general public.

If you’re on TikTok, chances are you’ve interacted with content related to neurodivergence. The social media app is full of videos listing characteristics of neurodivergence or sharing advice for coping with life after diagnosis.

Though this content can be positive, it raises the concern that neurodivergence is becoming a trend or the common claim that something is ‘causing’ it to rise. Neurodivergent people and scientists will very readily tell you this isn’t the case. But what record do we have of neurodivergence across history?

The Neurodiversity Movement

The term “neurodiversity” originates in the 1990s, attributed to social scientist Judy Singer. Singer aims to stop pathologising neurodivergent people and, instead, considers their different ways of viewing and experiencing life.

This movement focuses on understanding neurodivergent people as entirely whole and worthy individuals, regardless of how their neurodivergence presents. It also prompted a move away from the harmful focus and stereotype of the ‘autistic savant’ or genius.

At the start of the 21^st century, the neurodiversity movement aligned with disability rights activists. Many consider the latest discourse on social media as an iteration of this original idea.

However, neurodivergent people have been around for far longer than this. Many theorise famous figures of history, such as Alan Turing, exhibited characteristics of neurodivergence. Why then, if neurodivergence has been a feature of society for so long, are many people only just coming to recognise it in themselves or others?

Masking: Hidden In Plain Sight

Autistic masking is an ingrained, often subconscious, way autistic people suppress certain behaviours, like stimming or other non-conventional behaviours. It can often be a way to avoid judgement or discrimination. But studies show it can be incredibly harmful to the mental health of people with autism. Masking also occurs for people with ADHD or other types of neurodivergence.

“Neurodivergent people have always existed”

This means diagnosis can become harder, as it relies on self-referral to a degree, and people may not recognise these behaviours in themselves or others. This often results in late or adult diagnosis, which can be incredibly difficult to deal with due to a lack of resources, unconscious prejudices, or a complete lack of diagnosis. Therefore, neurodivergent people have historically gone unnoticed.

The Hidden Neurodivergence Population

Neurodivergence is frequently under-diagnosed in women, which has been researched more thoroughly in recent years. While there are many factors influencing this, many women have talked about how societal expectations of femininity conditioned them to hide typical neurodivergent behaviours. Others view them as personal failures rather than manifestations of neurodivergence. Characteristics and behaviours may also present differently, with autistic girls likely to mask social difficulties and have more socially acceptable interests.

White children are also more likely to be diagnosed. It can be even harder for autistic people in the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community to get the support they need. White people face fewer barriers to diagnosis. They also have better access to support and more cultural understanding.

This can lead popular perceptions of neurodivergence in media, which are often inaccurate regardless. The lack of accurate representation further perpetuates the cycle of under-diagnosis, with many neurodivergent people not recognising themselves in what they understand to be neurodivergent characteristics due to media portrayals.

In conclusion, neurodivergent people have always existed. They have just been, and continue to be, unrecognised. The conversation on social media, which should be monitored to ensure accuracy, has helped many identities be normalised and recognised in a way not seen before. The acceptance, recognition and representation of neurodivergent people in popular media should be encouraged and promoted. The idea neurodivergent people ‘appeared’ in recent years must be dispelled.

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Featured image courtesy of Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash. No changes made to image. Image licence found here.