The Inherent Language and Science Problems Within Neurodiversity

The neurodiversity movement has achieved a robust momentum in recent years, so much so that its primary terms, neurodiverse and neurotypical, can be found all over the Internet and even on merchandise. Through this movement, people with autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome and other classically defined mental disorders or conditions have been able to stress that their difference is not disorder while advocating for greater awareness and fairer treatment. The term neurodiverse implies neurological diversity, which places the movement alongside other social movements and activism that herald diversity as one of the highest human values. This new language also helps to break stigmas that come with older, more medical and psychiatric terminology.

The problem is that these terms are not the hardened saviors they appear. Neurodiverse is not a well-defined term. Most definitions offered are a variation of somebody choosing to identify as neurodiverse because they have either been diagnosed (or self-diagnosed) with a common mental disorder. The term itself is not a diagnosis, but how the person has chosen to identify, and in an online era where personal identifiers have become important, it is not surprising that this term has picked up currency. Literally speaking, neurodiversity offers us nothing in comparison to any other human; every brain there ever was, is, and will ever be, is unique and even within our own brains, moment to moment, our brains enter different states and demonstrate forever changing biochemical activity. All brains are neurodiverse all the time.

Neurotypical is also problematic. From the perspective of a social movement, this term has been adopted to be the ‘other’ to neurotypical. The existence of this term helps to frame plights, discussion, and argument by giving a name to the hypothetical person who does not have to endure the same struggles as the neurodiverse. When descriptions of social or work situations can be framed as benefitting the neurotypical, it allows the neurodiverse to further define themselves, and in some cases provide a target for the ire that the neurodiverse feel from the social difficulty they encounter. However, neurotypical is not a diagnosis and nobody would identify as neurotypical.

The neurodiversity movement, perhaps unintentionally, has intruded into scientific language and discourse. With language that is for social identity purposes only, the terms neurodiversity and neurotypical have no place in medicine or psychiatry. To answer research questions, an experimental group is created where the participants meet certain diagnostic criteria, and a control group is created of individuals that do not meet that criteria. The control group are not considered typical or normal as these terms do not really mean anything in medicine. And yet, perhaps due to the positivity associated with the term neurodiverse we are starting to see its use in journals that should know better.

With poorly defined terms it is hard to see how the movement will move beyond establishing a sense of community. The goal of all social movements, beyond spreading awareness, is surely pushing to achieve a degree of equality and justice. However, unlike the patriarchy and white supremacy, neurotypicality does not exist. There is also no suggestion why identifying as neurodivergent is better than identifying as autistic or somebody with ADHD.

If we could encourage the public and researchers to think more in terms of difference than disorder, we could see greater understanding and better social accommodations for those who need them. However, it would be a bold argument to suggest that therapy would no longer be needed for those with mental health diagnoses if society was not biased towards the neurotypical, and so some acknowledgment of need also appears necessary.

Ideally, neurodiversity should not be set up in opposition to neurotypicality. Neurodiversity should simply be the recognition that all human brains are dynamic and brilliant and it is incumbent upon us to unravel and understand this complexity so that everyone can be given the respect they deserve.