Please reach out to us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The neurobiology and anatomy of the human brain is naturally diverse and varies from person to person. The differences in how our brain is structured influences how we respond to ourselves, others and the world around us. Factors such as how we think, engage with others and the environment, process sensory information, move and communicate can and do naturally vary. Commonalities in how the brain is structured can be grouped into different “neurotypes”. Broadly, neurotypical refers to a brain with typical, or the most common, neurological development and functioning. Neurodivergent, or people with neurodevelopmental differences, refers to brains that have neurological differences to what is considered typical.
The DSM-V-TR is the tool used by health professionals in the assessments and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental differences. The DSM-V-TR outlines the diagnostic criteria for neuro-developmental differences. The DSM-V-TR refers to these as disorders. However, as TP Assessments adopts a neuro-affirming approach, we prefer to drop the disordered language and refer to them as neurodevelopmental differences or divergences. A neurodevelopmental disorder is a condition that affects the growth and development of the brain and nervous system, leading to difficulties in various areas of functioning such as cognition, behaviour, social interaction, and motor skills.
Individuals are typically born with neuro-developmental differences and experiences are generally apparent early in childhood and persist throughout the individual's lifespan, however an individual may not know they have neurodevelopmental differences or receive a diagnosis until later in life.
Some examples of neurodevelopmental differences include:
1. Autism: Characterized by differences in how someone might communicate and interact with others, engage with topics of interests, move and behave.
2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Characterised by differences in areas such as attention, concentration and focus as well as differences in movement needs and impulse control.
3. Intellectual Disability: Involves significant limitations in intellectual functioning as well as adaptive functioning across different areas including life skills, community engagement, and practical skills.
4. Specific Learning Disorders: These include dyslexia (difficulty with reading), dyscalculia (difficulty with math), and dysgraphia (difficulty with writing), which impact specific academic skills.
Neurodevelopmental differences arise from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors that influence brain development.
While some neurodevelopmental differences, like autism, have a strong genetic component, others can result from environmental exposures during pregnancy. Brain imaging studies have provided insights into the structural and functional differences in the brains of individuals with neurodevelopmental differences.
Management and intervention of neurodevelopmental differences typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including early intervention services, behavioural therapies, educational support, and, in some cases, medication. Not everyone with a neurodevelopmental difference requires additional support or intervention, however, given the world is designed for a neurotypical brain type, neurodivergent individuals often experience greater difficulty in a world that was not designed for them. It is therefore important these people have access to supports and accommodations. The goal of these supports should not be to “fix” the individual or to provide a “cure”, but to help identify ways to adjust the environments around them and develop individualised strategies to aimed at meeting the person’s goals and improving their quality of life by addressing their specific needs and challenges.
The goal is to provide a clear understanding of the most important outcomes of the assessment, and to guide decision-making regarding interventions and supports.
Copyright © 2024 TP Assessments - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.
Contact us to book an initial appointment.