Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity encompasses individuals whose brain variances impact their cognitive processes, giving rise to conditions such as medical disorders, learning disabilities, and other unique strengths and challenges. This approach recognises the diverse range of neurological conditions due to natural variations in the human genome, including ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia.

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"Neurotypical" refers to individuals with standard brain functions, behaviours, and processing. Such individuals typically meet developmental and behavioural milestones at the expected times.

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Conversely, "neurodivergent" describes people whose brains function differently in one or more ways than standard. The term encompasses variations, from subtle differences to more pronounced variations resulting in unique behaviours.

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Neurodiversity recognises that neurodivergent conditions result from regular changes and variations in the human genome. These differences are not merely variations in brain function but are also recognised and appreciated as a social category, akin to differences in ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or ability.

Members of the neurodiverse community may have conditions such as Autism (ASD), Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder DCD), and Dyscalculia. Recognising and understanding these diverse experiences is vital to appreciating the richness of neurodiversity and building a more inclusive and accepting society.

We accommodate the complete range of neurodivergence, including less common learning differences such as dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and hyperlexia!
 
Other types of neurodivergence

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Dyscalculia
Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) is a specific learning disorder characterised by difficulties learning basic arithmetic facts, processing numbers, and performing accurate and fluent calculations.

 

Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a specific learning disability that impacts writing skills. It may result in spelling difficulties, poor handwriting, or challenges expressing thoughts on paper.

 

Meares-Irlen Syndrome
Irlen Syndrome, also known as Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, and Visual Stress, is a perceptual processing disorder. It is not a problem with the eyes but rather a difficulty with the brain's ability to process visual information.

 

Hyperlexia
Hyperlexia is a syndrome observed in individuals with exceptionally early reading ability or an intense fascination with letters, numbers, symbols, maps, or visual patterns.

 

Tourette's Syndrome
"Tourette's syndrome is an inherited neurological condition characterised by tics, involuntary and uncontrollable sounds, and movements. It is a complex condition, and many people with Tourette's may also experience other disorders or conditions, such as anxiety."

 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition in which a person experiences obsessive thoughts and engages in compulsive behaviours.

 

Synesthesia
Synesthesia is a condition in which an individual experiences a blending of their senses. For instance, someone with synesthesia may perceive sounds as colours or associate specific shapes, letters, or numbers with particular smells, colours, or flavours.

 

Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can range from mild to severe. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For instance, you may feel worried and anxious about taking an exam, undergoing a medical test, or attending a job interview (NHS).

 

Types of Learning Disabilities

Various types of learning disabilities can impact individuals differently. It's important to note that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders are distinct from learning disabilities.

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The main types of learning disorders include:

"Dyspraxia is a specific learning difficulty that affects coordination, movement, balance, and organisational abilities. People with dyspraxia may experience motor difficulties such as poor hand-to-eye coordination and spatial awareness, making it challenging to perform everyday tasks like writing.

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This condition shares similar traits with other neurodivergent conditions, such as Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD, particularly in the areas of short-term memory, concentration, and social interaction.

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Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia primarily impacts a person's motor skills, which are essential for movement and coordination. Children with dyspraxia may struggle with tasks such as holding objects, tying shoelaces, and writing, while adults may encounter difficulties with tasks like writing and typing. 

Other problems associated with dyspraxia include speech difficulties, sensitivity to light, touch, taste, or smell, and difficulty with eye movements."

 

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It can also include challenges with information processing, short-term memory, and timekeeping.

However, these challenges don't stem from a deficiency in language, word processing, or motor control; they result from a unique brain processing function, which means that people with dyslexia often have many cognitive features and strengths.

We provide dyslexia consultancy services for employers looking to support their neurodiverse employees and workplace needs assessments for dyslexia.

Dyslexia affects how a person processes language, making reading and writing difficult. It can also cause problems with grammar and reading comprehension. Children may also have trouble expressing themselves verbally and putting together thoughts during conversation.

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Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia affects a person's writing abilities, leading to problems such as bad handwriting, spelling trouble, and difficulty expressing thoughts on paper.

Dyscalculia affects a person's ability to understand and work with numbers. It can manifest in various ways, with different symptoms in different individuals. In young children, dyscalculia may impact learning to count and recognise numbers. As they grow older, children with dyscalculia may have trouble solving fundamental math problems and memorising things like multiplication tables.

 

Auditory Processing Disorder

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a condition that affects how the brain processes sounds. Individuals with APD may experience difficulties in various areas, such as learning to read, distinguishing sounds from background noise, following spoken directions, differentiating between similar-sounding words, and remembering information they have heard.

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Visual Processing Disorder

Visual Processing Disorder occurs when individuals have difficulty interpreting visual information. It can manifest as trouble reading, distinguishing between similar objects, and experiencing challenges with hand-eye coordination.