#neurodevelopmental

[fallenstarcat]

sometimes i feel like people forget autism is a disability. and that’s not a bad thing! i’m all for disability acceptance, im proud of my disabilities. but i feel like we forget autism can hurt.

it hurts that i have to put more time and energy into socializing than others.

it hurts when i need to move so bad, usually cause im overwhelmed by either my surroundings or emotions, that i thrash and hurt myself.

it hurts that i cant be in places that are too loud or too bright, which on bad days can be as simple as a small, quiet noise or dim lights.

it hurts that i struggle to tell when im hungry, thirsty, tired, etc. so i can’t properly take care of myself. it doesn’t help my insomnia and i get very nauseas and get UTIs.

i 100% believe in autism acceptance. i don’t want a cure. but i also want us the acknowledge that it can hurt. it doesn’t mean my entire life will hurt, but some parts will. and i want a community where we can see both sides, see the hurt, and celebrate it anyway.

[goodgriefnd]

Neurodivergent Passport

A wee update with some exciting news about My Neurodivergent Passport: a tool to communicate your needs, strengths, and sensory/communication profiles.

Following some feedback the passport has been updated.

You can now get a printed version of My Neurodivergent Passport! You can buy it here!

You can also get it as a free PDF on my blog.

[neurodivergentandfemale]

I never see enough about the good things I experience because of Autism. Autism helps me hyper focus on things, makes me a more honest person and gives me amazing attention to detail! Yes it's hard at times but I love these things.

[wronggalaxy]

Am I stupid? Like genuinely? Because I thought I was smart because I used to be in advanced reading classes and stuff, but I don't think I am anymore.

I struggle with reading and writing a lot of the time.

I only know how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide and not very good at that, even with small numbers.

Bad at science concepts.

Only know special interest history stuff, and even get that stuff mixed up.

Talk 'like a toddler' most of the time.

Spend like 5 minutes on every sentence type online(less on this cause brain feels extra cotton-y, but still lots time).

Don't know names of symbols except period and comma.

Etc.

Is this autism regression or something else?

Don't want to lose writing skills more. I'm an author. Only way to make money. Need to survive.

Family not safe, no carer, no money for carer. Can't college, can't work, can't get diagnosis.

This impossible.

(Maybe have learning disability, no know)

[touretticeducation]

What is oppositional defiant tic or oppositional tic?

This term is coined by Jess Thom aka Touretteshero. She has Tourette’s and is a public speaker and advocate on Tourette’s. She has a blog dedicated to sharing information and personal experiences. (This link will directly take you to her sharing her experiences with ODT)

Oppositional tic is a tic that makes you say, do, or think of something you’d normally wouldn’t do or never would do.

E.g.

Ticcing a Christmas gift secret in front of the person

Tics forcing you to tense your stomach muscles until you pee (bladder tic)

Gagging tic that could lead to a vomiting tic

Ticcing insults or rude comments when you’re the type of person that keeps negative thoughts and opinions to yourself

Ticcing slurs

Tics mimicking regular conversations and makes it seem like you’re directly speaking to someone, when you're not meaning to or are shy and would less likely strike up a conversation (e.g. ticcing questions, ticcing specific words or paragraphs like: “Cool shoes!” “Hello!” may be combined with waving, “How’s your day?” Etc.)

Suggesting or requesting the ticcer to stay silent in certain places (library, movie theater, etc.), not to do something in the building (e.g. A sign says not to tap on the glass after hearing or reading the sign the ticcer may immediately tap on the glass as a tic, etc.), giving an assignment not to drop or spill something the ticcer may end up breaking or spilling it.

Getting a mental picture (spilling food and drinks, throwing stuff, hitting someone or something), words or phrases (these will not lead to anxious behavior or OCD as tics are exclusively a tic disorder neurotype, if one has a anxiety disorder or OCD, mental tics can trigger anxiety and OCD)

What makes it an oppositional tic if the disorder is oppositional itself?

Oppositional tics includes more range of complex tics and not just inappropriate and slur tics. It shows and open up minds that tics can mimic everything the human body possibly can do.

Are coprophenomena terms problematic?

No, though it caused uneducated people to create / use the ablest term “the swearing disease / disorder”. It also has lead people to believe it's something we want to do or choosing to do to get away with it, which can be really difficult to talk about tics including mental tics.

Coprophenomena terms are perfectly okay to use. Coprophenomena only focuses on insults, slurs and inappropriate vocal, motor and mental tics, while oppositional tics focuses on more range of complex tics.

ODT / OT also focuses more on the ticcers experience with their inappropriate tics, instead of focusing on how society is distressed by it.

Here's a video of a tourettic woman who talks about OT / ODT

Snapple and Cats! - Oppositional Tics on youtube

[planetgleebglorb]

There is some discourse on Twitter about zayn possibly being autistic. Zayn is neurodivergent and was diagnosed with adhd when he was younger. I'm not certain he has autism as well. However, it wouldn't be a far-fetched idea considering that people with adhd are usually comorbid with autism. With that being said, a lot of people forget that adhd has similar traits as autism ex. Stimming, trouble socializing, anxiety comorbidities, emotional dysregulation etc. adhd isn't just some "behavioral" defect that makes you hyperactive, it's literally a neurodevelmental disorder. So, no I'm not exactly sure that zayn has autism, however, I can see how people would come to that conclusion.

[structuredsucc]

Hitting developmental milestones unusually early is just as much a sign of a neurodevelopmental condition (i.e. autism, ADHD, learning disability, etc.) as hitting them late.

Doubly so if you hit some unusually early and others unusually late

[spooksforsammy]

Hi! Feel free not to answer this if im overstepping or it's inappropriate, but u made posts about neurodivergence and disability and you seem knowledgeable so I thought it would not hurt to ask. I have this friend with a neurodevelopmental disability and I don't know how to set boundaries with her? I understand she does not pick up the social cues I usually use with neurotypical people, but I don't want to be blunt and rude either. What is a way to tell her for example if I am having a conversation with someone else and want her to leave without saying it mean? If it was a neurotypical I could do body language or subtle hints but anything more than that feels rude to me. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a good day

Before start please remember just giving best advice possible and might not be much help since need others help set boundaries unless already in place.

Thing first important thing is to remember that when it comes to setting boundaries, you can’t really avoid sounding blunt or rude. Can remind person during talk that isn’t mad or trying be rude, might also help explain before talk begins.

Type of disability and severity can play role. Ask make sure even know what boundaries are, and not saying be rude, saying because broke so many not understanding what they are and how work. If don’t understand boundaries, explain what are, how work and why needed.

Would recommend that staying direct in setting boundaries. Say exactly what mean and want person understand. If mean one thing, don’t say another. Many neuredevelopmental people can’t see “in between the lines” and need it be said clearly.

Not everyone can grasp concepts of boundaries especially if high/higher support needs. If have carers, talk to them about helping explain what your boundaries are and how person can respect them. Also remember that might not get correct first time, doesn’t mean stop trying set boundaries, just mean need keep reminding and hep understand. If take a couple times before can remember or actually understand how boundaries work, don’t get mad at person. Just reexplain boundary that was broken and if possible (and helps person) act out scenarios where boundary is broken and met.

Hope helps and ask if any more questions

[the-flesh-is-willing]

“I am a chad texture enjoyer” -me, 2023

[fallenstarcat]

im autistic and have albinism / am albino ❌

assigned AA battery at birth ✔️

[neurodivergentandfemale]

When you receive a diagnosis...

The questions that come with this are nearly as many as they were before. I found myself going back over my entire life trying to work out what was Autism and what was me for many years. I finally worked out its all me, Autism is just one part of me.

[introvertistic]

"… complex vocal tics have linguistic meaning (words or partial words) and can include repeating one’s own sounds or words (palilalia), repeating the last-heard word or phrase (echolalia), or uttering socially unacceptable words, including obscenities, or ethnic, racial, or religious slurs (coprolalia). Importantly, coprolalia is an abrupt, sharp bark or grunt utterance and lacks the prosody of similar inappropriate speech observed in human interactions."

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Neurodevelopmental disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).

[touretticeducation]

Anyone have this oppositional tic?

Eye contact tic is when a Tourettor has a tic or compultic where they are forced to look at someone, someone’s eyes or a camera. Sometimes it’s known as “direct tics” since it seems like the tourettor is speaking to the person or giving them a look.

E.g.

(Just) eye contact tic (staring, eye rolling, looking back and forth at them, etc.)

Eye contact + other motor tic(s) (clapping at someone, facial expressions, rude gestures, etc.)

Eye contact + vocal tic(s) (tics appearing social, appearing rude, phonics, etc.)

Eye contact + other motor and vocal tics

Compultic - obsessive tic symptoms include unable to not focus on the tic energy (premonitory urges) and or mental tic - compultic symptoms include getting rid of the tic energy in sets, loops, symmetry behaviors. It’s a complex type of tic that needs to repeat the tic until tic energy goes away, instead of a impultic where it’s more on the involuntary spectrum.

Mental tics - like any other tic it’s an automatic symptom that appears through thoughts, although the symptom is intrusive (like any other external tics) they do not display any intrusive and compulsive symptoms, and are not associated with emotions. Anxious behaviors may be due to fear of having it as an external tic or are uncomfortable with the repetitiveness nature of tics with oppositional tics.

(Impultics includes little awareness and less time to redirect the tic energy, compultics includes strong attention to the tic energy physically and or mentally and are unable to not tic, compulTICS are still involuntary and not a compulSIVE behavior that can be changed, compulTICS are still associated with the tic energy (premonitory urges) and still need treatment like any other tics, and often react very poorly and tend to be dangerous to use traditional OCD treatment on compulTICS.)

[johniac]

SciTech Chronicles. . . . . . . . .Mar 2nd, 2025

[wheelie-sick]

I wanted to share some etiquette for simplifying something down for someone with a cognitive/intellectual disability

you are simplifying the information down, not sharing your opinion

if I ask for a news article to be simplified down and you tell me "they're doing fascist things" that's unhelpful. I want to know what they're doing not what you think about what they're doing.

you should be objective with it

if an article is talking about, say, a new proposed bill in Congress an example of an appropriate way to summarize would be:

"this is what the bill is proposing

this is how the article says it will affect people

this is what the author thinks about it"

and then you can start talking about your opinion

we have a right to form our own opinions about information. if the only thing you share is your opinion you're denying us that right. when simplifying language you are a translator. think of yourself as a translator.

[wovetherapy]

ADHD or/and Trauma?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving symptoms such as difficulty focusing, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It impacts children and adults alike. As of 2024, over 5 million U.S. children (approximately 8.7% of children in the U.S. ages 3-17) are currently diagnosed with ADHD. In adults worldwide, approximately 366.3 million (6.8%) have symptomatic ADHD and have been diagnosed with ADHD, regardless of age of onset. The research is ongoing, but possible causes of ADHD include genetics, injuries to the brain, use of substances (e.g. alcohol) during pregnancy, and low birth weight.

Adult ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has been receiving a lot of attention on social media and amongst queer and neuro-atypical communities. In general, ADHD has long been a somewhat controversial and often stigmatized topic involving race, gender, and income disparities, although diagnoses can also bring validation and understanding to a person’s schema, both self- and world-. It can also foster a sense of community for neurodivergent folk. The topic of ADHD-diagnosis is commonly paired with discourse on medication and can feel like an opportunity to stop living life on “hard-mode”. However, a topic often overlooked and left out of ADHD conversations amidst misdiagnoses and comorbidities is the intricate overlap of ADHD symptoms with trauma-related symptoms pertaining to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or complex trauma. It is important to accurately diagnose these symptoms in order for those to receive the best care and avoid further harm and health complications.

ADHD and Trauma

Studies have indicated childhood trauma or ACEs, adverse childhood experiences (e.g. abuse, violence, neglect, poverty, witnessing violence, etc.), as a significant marker for developing ADHD later in life. Evidence has also shown that children with ADHD who have a disturbing experience are four times as likely to develop PTSD than kids without ADHD. Additionally, it is likely that those with ADHD experience more severe trauma symptoms than kids without ADHD. Causes of ADHD are still not fully known, but it is clear that early life stress can impact the shape of a child’s brain. Further, stress can disrupt brain development as well as how the brain regulates thoughts, actions, and feelings. Brain imaging has revealed ADHD and PTSD to be associated with similar irregularities in brain functioning, which could explain the increased risk. Regarding diagnoses, those being evaluated for ADHD should also be screened for PTSD and vice versa.

“Venn Diagram” of ADHD and Trauma-related Symptoms

Both ADHD and Trauma may include the following symptoms:

Being distracted, inattentive, or spaceyChildren who have experienced trauma may be mentally elsewhere, re-experiencing, remembering, or attempting to process traumatic events, which can appear as an inattentive type of ADHD.

Hyperactivity or hyperarousal, being fidgety or restlessChildren who have experienced trauma or have been exposed to repeated trauma are hypersensitive to signs of danger or threat. Stress hormones course throughout their body, making it difficult to sit still, be calm, or pay attention, similar to symptoms of ADHD.

Impulsivity and oppositional behaviorKids who have experienced trauma tend to have a more negative worldview and perceive people as a threat/hostile/someone who assumes negative intentions towards them. Their fight or flight system is activated and firing even in the absence of danger. This may cause kids to act out in similar ways that may be seen in kids with ADHD.

Difficulty completing tasks, being organized, planning, managing emotionsExecutive functioning is commonly challenging for those who have experienced trauma. The brain region responsible for executive functioning tasks is most affected by ACEs and is also associated with ADHD symptoms.

Trauma symptoms (not typically associated with ADHD)

Physiological symptoms: headaches, racing heartbeat, digestive issues, etc.

Emotional responses: fear, sadness, anger, denial, shame, confusion, etc.

Intrusive, disturbing thoughts

Nightmares and flashbacks in response to the traumatic event

Avoidance of things which may be a reminder of the traumatic experience: avoiding going home or getting in a car, lingering in school hallways

ADHD symptoms (not typically associated with trauma)

Interrupting others in conversation

Excessive talkativeness

The Cycle

The nature of ADHD and trauma symptoms is often cyclical:

Children experience symptoms of ADHD such as hyperactivity or impulsivity. This leads to getting into trouble more so than children without ADHD symptoms. Stressful events ensue, i.e. being reprimanded, violence, punishment, accidents which involve physical harm. These stressful events may register as trauma. Trauma symptoms emerge and exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Cycle repeats.

Alternative cycle:

Children experience a traumatic event which leads to an inability to regulate or make sense of their emotions. Trauma symptoms manifest as or exacerbate common ADHD symptoms, i.e. lack of focus, disruptiveness, impulsivity. See cycle above.

Intersectionality

These cycles can be especially dangerous for some children and have lasting effects into adulthood. Kids who are most at risk of ADHD diagnoses and various types of trauma are those in communities where there is a high level of violence. Additionally, poverty is associated with high levels of trauma, fewer education resources, and overburdened teachers. It has been known that students of color are more likely to be treated as behavior problems than white students, which has historically led to misdiagnoses. Further, BIPOC students are more likely to be referred and suspended for disciplinary reasons than their white peers, and there is a higher likelihood of them experiencing traumatic events, e.g., racial trauma, poverty, community violence, police violence.

Thorough and accurate evaluation and diagnoses of ADHD and PTSD or complex trauma is extremely important. Consequences of misdiagnosis or undiagnosis/unrecognition can be experienced throughout life in various aspects of life, such as: in relationships with others, how one sees the world, how one views themself or their future, difficulty managing thoughts and feelings, exacerbation of existing symptoms, etc. It is imperative that those with ADHD and/or trauma-related symptoms receive appropriate care. Some ADHD medications may increase the level of hypervigilant anxiety often felt by those who have experienced trauma. As a general rule of thumb, people should always consider the full picture of a person’s background and experiences and recognize possible comorbidities when it comes to diagnoses and medication. Speaking with a therapist may be particularly helpful in processing and elucidating pertinent information related to ADHD and trauma.

Check out some of the resources of ADHD or/and Trauma here.