Mini Defintions - Neurotypes

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning difference, that shapes the way someone processes information.

A dyslexic person may have skills and abilities in problem solving, creative thinking and general knowledge.

Common difficulties include breaking down sounds in words, remembering verbal instructions, accurate spelling and fluent reading.

Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a neurodifference that influences someone's movement, their spatial awareness, their balance and their co-ordination.

Associated strengths include strategic thinking, empathetic, and creative thinking.

It can also affect how someone learns new skills, how they process emotions as well as their time management and organisational skills.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a neurodifference that means someone may have difficulty with writing skills.

It can affect spelling as well as handwriting and expression.

Characteristic strengths include strong verbal communication and storytelling skills, adaptability and problem-solving.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a neurodifference, relating to processing and understanding numbers.

This can make maths challenging and can lead to some people experiencing ‘maths anxiety’ when confronted with number problems.

Common strengths include strategic thinking, troubleshooting and creativity.

Visual Stress

Visual Stress, also known as Irlen Syndrome, is when someone’s brain has difficulty processing visual information, particularly repetitive patterns such as lines of text.

It can cause distortion, eye sensitivity and discomfort which makes reading difficult and tiring.

Strengths include resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving

ADHD

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodifference characterised by differences in attention, activity levels and impulsivity.

There are three sub-types of ADHD:

Inattentive ADHD
Hyper-active impulsive ADHD
Combined ADHD

There is often a difference in how ADHD presents in men and women.

Strengths include: an ability to hyper-focus, expressive and trouble-shooting

Autism

Autism is a neurodifference that shapes how people communicate and experience the world.

Autistic traits present differently in each person.

Typically, autism may affect how someone communicates and interacts socially, how they experience the world through their senses as well as their behaviours and interests.

Characteristic strengths include subject matter expertise, attention to detail and empathy.

Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological difference that influences the parts of the brain that control movement.

It may cause people to make involuntary movements or noises, known as tics.

Strengths may include empathy, verbal skills and the ability to hyper-focus.

Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where a person experiences unwanted thoughts, images or urges that repeatedly enter their mind.

As a result, they may feel the need to engage in repetitive behaviours as a way to temporarily relieve unpleasant feelings brought on by the repeated thoughts.

OCD can have a big impact on someone’s daily life and wellbeing.

Common strengths include resilience, empathetic and imaginative

Developmental Language Disorder

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is when a person experiences persistent long-term challenges in understanding and/or using spoken language, despite having typical hearing and intelligence.

For example, someone may have trouble choosing words or may muddle up words in sentences.

Strengths include: Practical skills, visual thinkers, perceptive observation skills.

Mental Health

Mental health is our state of mental wellbeing.

When we have good mental health, we are able to think, feel and react in a way that allows us to live our lives in the way we wish.

When we have poor mental health, we may find thinking and feeling hard to cope with, preventing us from living in the way we want to.

When someone has poor mental health, it can affect their memory, how they process information and how they concentrate.