Supporting neurodivergent children & young people

According to The Brain Charity, neurodiversity is an umbrella term for the natural variations in the human brain and its functions. Just like society is diverse with different cultures, experiences and customs, everyone is neurodiverse with a brain unique to them.

Neurodivergence refers to specific variations in ways of thinking and brain function. This often refers to autism and ADHD. However, there are a range of conditions that fit within neurodivergence.

The Brain Charity lists out 7 conditions that are considered neurodivergent:

• Autism. Autistic individuals might have strong pattern recognition, problem-solving and attention to detail. They might struggle with social cues or sensory issues. It’s a spectrum, so experiences vary.
• ADHD. Those with ADHD are often creative and able to think quickly, including in emergency situations. They might struggle with focus, impulse control and energy regulation. Symptoms and experiences can vary.
• Dyslexia. Many with dyslexia are creative and great at problem-solving, often coming up with strategies to overcome challenges. Dyslexia can appear as difficulty as reading, word recognition and memory recall due to processing written language differently.
• Dyscalculia. Those with dyscalculia are often creative thinkers with strong reasoning abilities and problem-solving skills. This condition can appear as difficulty with Maths, numbers and spatial awareness.
• Dysgraphia. Individuals with dysgraphia often excel in verbal communication and problem-solving, along with creativity. Indicators include difficulty with handwriting, spelling and punctuation and organising thoughts on paper.
• Dyspraxia. Those with dyspraxia (or Developmental Coordination Disorder) are often strong problem-solvers, creative thinkers and resilient. They might struggle with coordination, dexterity and balance.
• Tourette Syndrome. Those with TS tend to have enhanced coping strategies, skill in areas like memory and music, and great resilience. It involves involuntary movements and vocal tics, which can include noises and words that can make social situations challenging.

Other conditions can fall into the neurodivergent category, but the above are the seven most common. Sometimes a child with one condition might also have others such as autism and ADHD (AuDHD).

If you recognise symptoms in your child, you can use our provided guidance to support them while you wait for a diagnosis.