Growing use of the term ‘neurodivergent’ is ‘problematic’ and may be undermining those with real medical diagnoses, experts have warned.
British researchers say the phrase is being attributed to people without formal diagnosis, when it should be reserved for people with genuine disorders like ADHD and autism.
They said this could result in vulnerable children missing out on vital resources, for instance in schools, as it could be wasted on those without medical problems.
The warning comes amid continued scrutiny from experts who have raised concerns about over-diagnosing and over-medicalising regular behaviours.
Diagnoses of ADHD are at record highs in England – rising 20-fold since the turn of the century – while autism cases increased by 787 per cent in the UK between 1998 and 2018.
Last month, autism research pioneer Professor Dame Uta Frith declared that ‘anyone can be diagnosed with autism if they meet certain criteria’.
The phrase ‘neurodivergence’ has become increasingly commonplace, often discussed on social media and by celebrities.
Last year TV chef Jamie Oliver said his family were ‘very neurodiverse’, referring to his wife Jools and children, Poppy, Daisy, Petal, Buddy and River.
Jamie Oliver has said he has a ‘very neurodiverse family’, referring to his wife Jools and children, Poppy, Daisy, Petal, Buddy and River
He said that some have been diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD and autism, but did not specify which child has which condition.
Jools Oliver ‘has neurodiversities that make her life really interesting and really challenging’, the presenter said.
Meanwhile, Scottish singer Annie Lennox revealed last year that she was ‘a bit neurodivergent’, having been diagnosed with ADHD.
Lennox said ‘it’s not an easy thing to live with but it’s also a superpower.’ ‘I think it does bring brilliance,’ she added.
In a new review, psychiatric experts from the University of Southampton analysed more than 134 studies involving around 150,000 participants – primarily from the UK and US – and focused on patients who had been either told they were ‘neurodivergent’ or ‘neurodiverse’ by healthcare professionals, or identified as such.
They discovered almost 20 different conditions associated with the term.
Most were autism and ADHD, followed by dyslexia and dyspraxia. These are classed by the NHS as ‘neurodivergent conditions’.
But they also found patients with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder had been labelled with the term, as well as those who’d suffered a stroke and brain injuries.
Furthermore, one in five studies used the terms without listing any diagnosis, according to the research, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
A third relied on people to self-identify as ‘neurodivergent’ rather than a clinical assessment and diagnosis.
Writing in The Conversation, the authors said the broad use of the term is ‘unfair’ and risks undermining the challenges faced by those living with conditions like ADHD and autism.
‘Their day-to-day experience is often very different from that of people without a diagnosis,’ they wrote.
The study also found studies ‘mixed-up’ the terms ‘neurodivergent’ and ‘neurodiverse’, which mean two different things.
Neurodivergent is the term for when someone behaves in a way deemed different from societal norms.
Conditions, which are diagnosed after an assessment, include autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia – difficulty doing maths – according to the NHS.
Tourette’s syndrome, which causes sudden movements, reactions and tics, and dysgraphia – difficulty writing – are also listed by the health service.
Meanwhile, the term ‘neurodiversity’ is the broader belief that every person’s brain is wired differently.
The authors said the terms are becoming increasingly commonplace in day-to-day life and are often used in place of a specific diagnosis.
They warned that conditions like autism and ADHD are also often lumped together when ‘each condition has its own specific clinical features and diagnostic criteria’, leading to misunderstandings about a person’s specific difficulties.
‘This is why using ‘neurodivergent’ as a catch-all term, even in research, can cause problems,’ they wrote.
Autism and ADHD are often closely linked but they are different disorders.
Autism affects how people communicate, interact with others and experience the world around them.
Autistic people may also think and process information differently, prefer routines and be more sensitive to sights, sounds, smells or touch.
Meanwhile, ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, affects concentration, activity levels and impulse control.
Symptoms can include being easily distracted or forgetful and struggling to follow instructions.
The new findings come as a Government review into ADHD diagnoses is expected to recommend that healthcare professionals prioritise patients with severe problems related to their condition – such as self harm.
Meanwhile, those with milder symptoms may not get NHS access, but will still be offered support.
Some 800,000 people are currently waiting to be assessed for the disorder.
