Why do I have a neurodiversity diagram on my twitter

My life has been shaped by my neurodiversity.

Diagnosed Dyslexic, ADHD inattentive and going through ASD diagnosis.

I discovered this diagram shortly after I was made homeless in 2013. I started this disability blog you are reading and my Twitter, to help others with their disabilities.

The neurodiverse and design

It is the visual nature and compartmentalization, which make this picture so attractive to me. In my underemployed days, I have been chiefly in the design arena. I worked for an architecture firm designing Tesco carparks. As a web designer and marketing manager for a PPE company. I have been an email designer for many sales companies. And all through those and others, I have loved design. And this simple design says a lot, all described below.

Dyspraxia DCD

What is dyspraxia?

Difficulties with planning movements, co-ordination and practical tasks as well as tracking and balance, poor spatial awareness and muscle tone

What is DCD?

Also known as dyspraxia, Development Coordination Disorder DCD is the official name. There is no common agreement of dyspraxia amongst countries.

There is an overlap between Autism and ASD, including Aspergers

 Being over or undersensitive to light, noise, touch, and temperature. Speece and language difficulties. Relieve may be sauoght by using fidget toys, weighted blankets, soundproof headphones, and earplugs. And in the class not expecting people to write down the homework.

Autism and ASD, including Aspergers

Social and communication problems. Obsessive interests. The difference in imagination.

What makes ASD, Autism and Aspergers different diagnoses?

ASD is the new definition for aspergers and Autism. ASD asserts that there is no impact on the IQ of an individual. That definition before DSM-5 was that there was a limit to IQ.

This may cause fewer people who consider themself high functioning to not come forward. However, there are still doctors giving Aspergers as a diagnosis to stop people being impacted by a diagnosis of ASD.

Tourette's Syndrome.

There's an overlap between the ASD and ADHD of Tourettes. Verbal and physical tick

What are ticks?

A tick is an involuntary movement. Socially acceptable ticks are like hair flicking, picking your nose, and shugging. However single-shoulder movements, rapid blinking and skin picking are not.

Why are these different from self-soothing, like rocking?

Both are repetitive movements. But rocking is done to soothe, to show happiness, or upset, whereas ticks tend to be involuntary.

One may say that dance as a nonverbal expression is well suited to people with ASD. And can also be used as therapy, like yoga or meditation.

ADHD and ADD

There is a strong overlap between ADHD and ASD. Many people have a dual diagnosis.

There are three types of ADHD, Inattentive, Hyperactive and mixed diagnosis can have following; Impulsivity, temper outbursts, and hyperactivity. Low frustration threshold, easily distracted or hyper-focusing.

There is an overlap in symptoms with Dyslexia. Lack of concentration, distractibility.

Dyslexia

There are overlaps between Dyspraxia and ADHD/ADD.

Dyslexia is difficulty with reading words. words and letters appear to move, and lines are skipped when reading. Careless mistakes are made in writing. And often words are spelt creatively.

Nuroediviersity

Difficulties with organisation, memory, concentration, time, direction, perception, planning, and sequencing. Poor listening skills

Comorbidity with depression anxiety and other mental health.

All may lead to low self-esteem. because life is harder and usually a result of trying harder than others and not achieving the same outcomes. A lot of the neurodiverse are underemployed, that is are in low-paying jobs disproportionate to their IQ.

Misdiagnosis Underdiagnosis.

misdiagnosis happens for a variety of reasons. The overlap with disabilities. The overlap with mental health. Medical bias.

Medical bias

A doctor may diagnose you with depression because you are a woman. They may never consider ADHD or ASD because you are not a young boy. I watched three accounts of YouTubers saying that once they took ADHD meds, a lot of the anxiety and depression subsided. Because it was based on their performance in tasks and life.

They may diagnose black people with schizophrenia because you a not white Asperger people. There was a study of children, where minorities where rediagnosed for ASD and it was found that this was overlooked and just not considered in 90% of cases.

Conclusion

If you are unsure about your diagnosis. Keep researching.