Has the World Caught onto the Word “Neurotype” Yet?
And has it been decided what counts under this umbrella term?
While autism is oft called a ‘disorder’ or ‘condition’ (or worse, a ‘disease’) there’s a lot of us in the autistic community who prefer the term neurotype — referring to a brain type, or how one’s brain processes information, an integral part of identity rather than something that ought to be cured. I would like to live in society that understands and accepts neurodiversity, the fact that not all minds work the same way, not in one that attempts to rid itself of the “not normal.”
I discovered this word around four years ago, during a period where I ate too much information, too quickly, for too long and was introduced to the term ‘autistic burnout’ the hard way. Now, meltdowns would be a daily occurrence if headphones and sunglasses weren’t my constant companion, and I’m lucky to have enough mental energy to even form a curious question.
Today I got lucky. I wondered to myself, “has the term ‘neurotype’ been more clearly defined and accepted since I’ve been out of commission?,” or rather I had a thought blob about it that I was eventually able to turn into a question — and I was happy to discover that there has been decided progress on this front.
Though Marriam-Webster hasn’t quite caught on (they do have ‘neurodiversity’), the Collins English Dictionary defines ‘neurotype’ as “the characteristic way that a person’s brain processes sensory stimuli.” Not bad. Google AI’s overview, which is likely the first thing most searchers will read, draws from AANE and The Neurodivergent Collective (both reputable) to give searchers a more complete picture:
“A neurotype is a person’s brain type, or how their brain processes information. It’s a fundamental part of a person’s identity, similar to race, gender, or sexuality.
What does it mean?
Neurotype: A person’s brain type, or how their brain processes information
Neurotypical: A person with typical neurological development
Neurodivergent: A person with a neurological difference
Neurodiversity: A movement that promotes acceptance of neurological differences
Why is it important?
Understanding your neurotype can help you understand your strengths and support needs
It can help you understand how you perceive and process the world
All neurotypes are valid, and no one is better or worse than another
Examples of neurotypes
ADHD: A neurotype that affects attention, information processing, and relationships
Autism: A neurotype that affects sensory systems, attention, information processing, and relationships
Down Syndrome: A neurotype that can result in prejudice and discrimination
Dyslexia: A neurotype that can result in prejudice and discrimination”
While those last two definitions, uhm, aren’t — the rest of it’s pretty spot-on, and uses sources that are respected by people from the autistic community. The last time I looked, likely years ago, there were no generated answers, and the results were from very niche sources (like blogs) as most people had never heard of the word. Definite progress here.
Are Mental Illnesses Neurodivergent?
But it didn’t clear everything up. Last time I looked, there wasn’t a clear consensus as to if mental illnesses counted under the umbrella of neurodivergence, so I headed back to Google with the question, and was again (begrudgingly) impressed by the AI Overview reply, sourced from two decidedly reputable sources, UW Medicine and the NHS, as well as a therapy company called Charlie Health, which I’ve never heard of (however, the article provides neurodivergent-affirming information that I’d love for all therapists to be primed on):
“No, mental illnesses are not neurodivergent, but neurodivergent people can experience mental health conditions:
Neurodivergence
A broad term that describes differences in how some people’s brains develop or work. It’s not a mental illness or health problem, but it can be associated with them. Neurodivergent people may have different social preferences, learn differently, or think differently than neurotypical people.Mental illness
A mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While neurodivergent people can experience mental health conditions, being diagnosed with a mental health condition doesn’t necessarily indicate neurodivergence.Neurodivergent people may face challenges in a neurotypical world that can increase their risk of mental health issues. For example, up to half of autistic people experience depression at some point in their lives. However, neurodivergent people don’t necessarily have poor mental health.“
Though all three sources both clearly separate mental health conditions and neurodivergence, Charlie Health also describes the confusion that’s existed around the question:
“The lines are blurred when it comes to including mental health conditions under the umbrella of neurodivergence since there isn’t a concrete definition or set of guidelines. Some people with mental health conditions consider themselves to be neurodivergent, while others don’t. The same goes for mental health professionals and researchers. Their opinions vary on whether mental illness in and of itself constitutes neurodivergence. That being said, some people with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety consider themselves to be neurodivergent, while others don’t.”
When I search for “list of neurodivergent conditions,” Google lists eleven: autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, dyspraxia, synesthesia, dyscalculia, down syndrome, OCD, as well as personality disorders and bipolar disorder — with the last two seeming to contradict Google’s previous assessment of “No, mental illnesses are not neurodivergent, but neurodivergent people can experience mental health conditions.”
So, while the world seems to be accepting the term ‘neurotype’, which is wonderful, there’s still some discussion as to what’s included under its umbrella. Personally, I like the clarity of separating mental illnesses from neurodivergence because while I’m learning to embrace my neurodivergent aspects (autism, ADHD), I will never be moved to embrace the depression, PTSD, and anxiety that haunt me. If I did, they’d consume me (yet again), so I treat them as something to move through — not an integral part of who I am. But that’s just my take.
What do you think? Should mental illnesses be considered neurodivergent? And have people in your world caught onto the word ‘neurotype’?
