Human beings are creatures that are blessed with a great mind which distinguish us from animals. Although a human brain and animal may seem similar, humans are much more intelligent at a remarkable level, thanks to a greater number of fibres connecting different parts of the brain which are responsible for language skills, reasoning, abstract thinking, decision making and social cognition. This plays a big role in human intelligence and making humans the most cognitive able among all living forms.
Just as the human face is different to one another, the brain itself can be different to one another. A person may have a slight difference to their brain and its function which causes a person to act differently to others. This includes different behaviour, thinking and learning processes compared to those that are neurotypical. This is what a neurodivergent is. It is important to note that these differences do not directly mean a person is a disabled person. They are just built differently yet the differences are equally important and valuable. A neurodivergence person may seem to lack certain skills but often shows great performance in other skills. For example, a neurodivergent person may be unable to tie their own shoelaces but could be a maths genius. Another example, a person may be having trouble keeping up with time management but shows a great level of empathy towards others.
Recognising and acknowledging signs of neurodivergent may not only help you to understand yourself better, but also for you to accept it is okay to have it and there are many resources and assistance out there to help you have a much fulfilling life. Among signs of neurodivergent are:
- Struggling with reading and writing
- Struggling with speech and language
- Unusual behaviours such as rocking, sudden repeated movement or twitches (tics) or blurting and shouting at unexpected unusual times and situation
- Clumsy acts
- Difficulty to cope with bright lights, sudden noise, loud sounds or social situations especially when being in the crowd of people
- Keeping still or focusing seem a big task and often result in loss of self-control
- Not showing social responsiveness such as no smile
There are many types of neurodiversity. Some of the recognised one are:
- Autism/ Autistics Spectrum Disorder (ASD)- a broad range of conditions including challenging social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication.
- Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- a person with short attention span, impulsive behaviour and seem over active for no apparent goal.
- Dyslexia- learning disorder affecting ability to read, spell, write and speak.
- Dyspraxia- difficulties in activities involving coordinated movement.
- Dyscalculia/ Developmental Dyscalculia (DD)- impairment of basic arithmetic skills
- Dysgraphia- learning disability associated with writing
- Irlen Syndrome- a problem with the brain ability to process visual information it receives causing visual distortion
- Hyperlexia- a person demonstrating syndrome of precocious, self-taught ability to read well before age of 5 and/or an intense fascination for numbers, letters, logos, maps or visual patterns.
- Tourette’s syndrome- neurological condition involving tics of repeated movements and sounds that are uncontrollable.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Synaesthesia- an experience of one sense through another such as hearing music but able to see shapes
- Anxiety
If you spot yourself acquiring any of the signs, getting a formal diagnosis by meeting a psychologist or psychiatrist can help you get the closure you need and advice to help you cope with daily life. If you are diagnosed with any form of neurodiversity, letting your friends and family know about it can help them get a better understanding of the condition. Disclosing the diagnosis to your workplace boss or supervisor can help them make adjustments needed to support your work. This can be an adjustment of the work environment like the work station or schedules. Know about our Hajj vaccination program.
