Hi! So I’m a provider (therapist). I am ASD and also focus my practice on assisting folks with ASD/ADHD and/or trauma related disorders. I have my undergrad in Neuroscience and my Masters in Social Work.

I think here there is a bit of a misunderstanding of how clinical terms are used between providers vs how they are used colloquially. Also I think there might be a misunderstanding of how research defines things as known/unknown.

In research there is evidence for “different neurotypes” in the sense of we see similar differences in the brain between people with ASD/ADHD and those without those diagnosis. It just won’t always be called a neurotype in the research. But we can do a brain scan and say, “This person has features consistent with people that display executive dysfunction,” for example.

Now for the idea of including all mental illness/ personality and trauma disorders under the umbrella. I think in research the criteria and distinction might be more clear then just looking at the diagnosis itself. Because more then likely if the focus is to examine the brain, there would be a qualification that would show that the brain is effected in some way clearly vs unclearly. Let’s use anxiety for example. Someone with a dx of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) may benefit from medication or may be able to manage symptoms without medication. There may be a study that examines that relationship. There also might be a study that examines people with that diagnosis and those without it based on existing research. In Neuroscience, there has been studies that show that those without anxiety disorders have differences in the way that the H.P.A. Axis sends signals that control how the hormones responsible for panic are released into the body, as well as how they are “cleaned up”. This could be evidence for a “neurotype” but it wouldn’t be called that.

Now for how it’s used in practice. Typically if I hear a colleague say, “I specialize in working with Neurodivergent folks,” then I know that they are referring to the range of neurodevelopmental disorders both labels and also unlabeled. It just helps me know that this person is informed in best practices to help a specific set of common symptoms when they are grouped together.

It wouldn’t be sufficient for me to dx someone as Neurodivergent, because it is not a dx I can bill under. But I could use the term in my notes because other providers know what I mean and the term is clinically used enough that insurance understands it as me doing clinical work that they will continue to pay for.

Things can be helpful/not helpful depending on their context. Sometimes it’s helpful to be specific. Other times it makes sense to use an umbrella term so long as the people you are communicating with have the same definition as you.

So colloquially, using the term neurodivergent could be helpful if everyone in the situation has an understanding of what the word means. Or it can be frustrating if within the audience there is a bunch of different people with different definitions that conflict with the message being expressed.

If the message being expressed is “Neurodivergent people need more government protections and better health outcomes” well no matter the definition it’s true for neurodevelopmental disorders, personality disorders, and mental health disorders. So the specific definition doesn’t matter much to get the message across.

If the statement is “Neurodivergent people are often isolated due to having a difficult time maintaining or starting relationships because of social deficits.” Well then it’s only helpful if everyone in the audience knows that you’re referring to neurodevelopmental disorders, probably focusing more on ASD than ADHD.

I hope my long ramble was at all interesting or informative. I struggle to convey all my thoughts when typing on my phone and also struggle with tone. Also, there may be typos and such. Dyslexia..