Not a Disorder, but Neurodiversity
2025.04.19
Hello, my name is Tatsuya Arakawa, a California-licensed therapist.
In this article, I would like to talk more about neurodevelopmental disorders.
Neurodiversity and Related Terms
So, what exactly is neurodiversity?
Conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD are typically labeled as neurodevelopmental disorders. However, these fall under the broader concept of neurodiversity. People who have these kinds of traits are referred to as neurodivergent, while those who do not are called neurotypical.
Traits That Could Apply to Anyone
That said, should we divide people neatly into categories of neurodivergent and neurotypical? Absolutely not.
For example, one of the common characteristics of ASD (a form of neurodivergence) is having strong preferences or fixations. Of course, there are also neurotypical individuals who are very particular or have strong preferences. And some who are not. Another characteristic of ASD is a strong adherence to routines. But again, many neurotypical people also prefer sticking to routines.
The Spectrum
Recently, society has begun to understand that it’s incorrect to categorize people strictly as either male or female. Instead, we now recognize that some individuals may identify as women yet possess traits traditionally associated with men from a societal perspective, or vice versa. Some people may not identify with any gender, while others may have been born male but identify as female. The diversity of gender is increasingly being acknowledged.
The same applies to neurodevelopmental traits. We should not separate people into “those with disorders” and “those without.” Rather, we should think of it as a spectrum, as shown below:
Neurotypical ---------------------------------------------- Neurodivergent
In other words, someone may lean toward the neurodivergent side in some aspects, while leaning more neurotypical in others.
Rethinking the Term “Disorder”
In fact, it may not be appropriate to use the term “disorder” when referring to neurodivergent individuals. Modern society is constructed largely by and for neurotypical individuals. From the neurotypical perspective, those who are “different” are labeled as having a disorder. However, using the term “disorder” can perpetuate stigma and discrimination, making it harder to truly see and understand the individual beyond the label.
So why is diagnosis still necessary?
It’s because our current society—built by neurotypicals—requires a diagnosis in order to access insurance coverage and services. If a person meets certain criteria, they are given a diagnosis. But even if someone does not meet all the diagnostic criteria, if they show some characteristics, they may still be considered to have traits of neurodivergence.
I plan to continue writing about neurodiversity in future articles. Thank you for reading.