Common neurodiverse conditions
Academics estimate that there are over 600 neurodiverse conditions, not including co-occuring conditions.
Some of the more common conditions include:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
This is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD may:
- seem restless
- have trouble concentrating
- act on impulse
More information: NHS website - ADHD
Autism
This is also referred to as autism spectrum disorder.
It is a lifelong condition that affects social interaction, communication, interest and behaviour.
More information:
Developmental co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia)
This is a condition affecting physical co-ordination.
It causes a child to perform less well than expected in daily activities for their age and appear to move clumsily.
More information: NHS website - Dyspraxia
Down's syndrome
This is when a person is born with an extra chromosome that affects how their brain and body develop.
More information: NHS website - Down’s syndrome
Dyslexia
This is a common learning difficulty that mainly causes problems with reading, writing and spelling.
More information: NHS website - Dyslexia
Dysgraphia
This is a condition that makes it difficult for a person to form letters in writing.
People with dysgraphia may also use the wrong word for what they’re trying to communicate.
More information: Healthline website - Dysgraphia
Dyscalculia
This is a learning difficulty that makes it hard to understand numbers which can lead to difficulties with mathematics.
More information: NHS website - Dyscalculia
Epilepsy
This is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures.
Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms.
More information: NHS website - Epilepsy
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
This is a group of conditions that can occur in a person exposed to alcohol before birth.
More information: NHS website - FASD
Global development delay
This is when a child takes longer to reach certain development milestones than other children their age.
This might include:
- learning to walk or talk
- movement skills
- learning new things
- interacting with others socially and emotionally
More information: Mencap website - Global development delay
Learning disabilities
This term describes permanent and lifelong disabilities with learning and achieving personal and social independence.
Learning disabilities are classified as mild, moderate, severe or profound.
People with severe and profound learning disabilities are likely to require support throughout their life.
More information: NHS website - Learning disabilities
Learning difficulties
This term refers to the challenges that children and young people can face in an educational setting. This can be because of conditions include dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
Learning difficulties are classified as mild, moderate, severe or profound.
More information: Mencap website – Learning difficulties
Masking
Masking or camouflaging is sometimes used by autistic people or people with ADHD to disguise or suppress specific autism traits or behaviours in social situations.
More information: National Autistic Society website - Masking
Mental health
This involves our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. Our mental health affects how we think, feel and act.
It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Mental health conditions include such things as depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
More information:
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
This is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
People can start having symptoms from as early as six years old, but it often begins around puberty and early adulthood.
More information: NHS website - Obsessive compulsive disorder
Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs
SEMH needs are a type of special educational need where a child communicates through behaviour in response to unmet social, emotional or mental health needs.
Children with SEMH needs often have difficulties in managing their emotions or their behaviour. They can show inappropriate responses to their emotions. They can feel scared, anxious and misunderstood.
More information: Living Autism website - SEMH needs
Tourette's syndrome
This is a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics.
More information: NHS website - Tourette’s syndrome
Other conditions and disorders:
- Exam stress: NHS website - Exam stress
- Body dysmorphia (BDD): NHS website - Body dysmorphia
- Eating disorders: NHS website - Eating disorders
- Self-harm: NHS website - Self-harm
- Addiction: NHS website - Addiction
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): NHS website - Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Noise sensitivity (hyperacusis): NHS website - Hyperacusis
