Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity describes the differences in how people process information and view the world. These differences are natural and it's important they are recognised and supported.
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Understanding neurodiversity
Explore the different aspects of neurodiversity and get advice and support for yourself and loved ones from Medical Director for Bupa UK Insurance, Dr Ravi Lukha
Transcript
Who are you?
Hi, I'm Dr
Ravi Luca, medical director at Bupa UK Insurance.
Are you curious about dyslexia or autism
or any other neurodiverse condition?
Come and ask me a question to find out more.
What is Neurodiversity?
The term neurodiversity refers to the way
that everyone's brains naturally works
and processes information differently from one another.
Just as you may be born right-handed or have green eyes.
How your brain works and
where you sit on the cognitive spectrum
will be unique to you.
It's an umbrella term, really used to describe a number
of these variations of thinking, behaving,
or processing information.
It's really important to note
that neurodiverse conditions aren't
deficiencies or abnormalities.
When someone doesn't identify as neurodiverse,
they may be referred to as neurotypical.
What are examples of conditions within neurodiversity?
Many conditions sit within the
neurodiversity umbrella term.
For example, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, or ADHD for short; dyscalculia, dysgraphia
and Tourette syndrome, just to name a few.
It's important to be aware
that they often exist on a spectrum
and can vary in their effects on different people.
For example, not everyone with ADHD has the same types
or severity of symptoms.
What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder, commonly referred to
as autism is a lifelong developmental disability,
which influences the way individuals
think and experience the world.
It's actually estimated to affect at least 1%
of the UK population.
Now, every person with autism has their own strengths
and challenges and can affect different individuals in
different ways, and such experiences can vary
throughout the lifespan.
Such differences associated
with autism may include difficulties with, for example,
social relationships
and interactions, as well as communication, such
as in gestures, facial expressions,
body language, and eye contact.
They might also experience difficulties
with sensory processing, including increased
or decreased sensitivity to noise, touch,
taste, lights, and pain.
They might also prefer routine or struggle with change,
or maybe highly focused in certain topics
of specific interests or hobbies.
They may also avoid certain situations
or activities due to difficulties with the environment,
and this can include anxiety related
to specific social situations.
Now, autism also results in individuals having many
strengths, which can include some of the following.
For example, attention to detail, abilities to focus
for extended periods of time on certain tasks
and activities, and ability to absorb information
and process patterns, as well as a strong work ethic.
Again, it's important to remember that every person
with autism is different
and will have a unique pattern of strengths and challenges.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
or ADHD for short, is a condition
that affects people's behaviours
with persistent symptoms such as in attentiveness,
hyperactivity, or impulsiveness.
It's actually estimated to affect around 3
to 4% of adults in the UK.
Now, symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age
and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances
change, such as when they start school.
Most cases are diagnosed when children are under the age
of 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in
childhood, and actually sometimes ADHD might not be
recognised when someone's a child
and they're diagnosed later as an adult.
The symptoms of ADHD may be improved with age,
but many adults who are diagnosed
with the condition at a young age continue
to experience problems.
People with ADHD may also have additional problems like
sleep or anxiety disorders.
What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty,
which primarily affects reading and writing skills,
but it doesn't just affect these skills.
It's actually estimated that around 10%
of the UK population have dyslexia, which equates
to over 6 million people.
Dyslexia is actually about information processing.
Dyslexic people may have difficulty processing
and remembering information they see
and hear, which can affect learning
and the acquisition of literacy skills.
Dyslexia can also impact on other areas such
as organisational skills.
It's important to remember
that there are positives to thinking differently.
Many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such
as reasoning and in visual and creative fields.
You can find out more by clicking the link below.
What is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty
that affects the ability to use
and acquire mathematical skills.
And this might affect how people see numbers.
Whilst others might find reading symbols difficult
or might find using finance and numbers in everyday life
a challenge. Actually,
around one in 20 people in the UK have dyscalculia
sometimes alongside other learning difficulties as well.
Now, having dyscalculia doesn't mean
that someone will have low intellectual ability.
And people with dyscalculia often have strengths
and talents in things like creativity and artistic talent.
Strong strategic thinking, a love of words, often
with excellent spelling and grammar, as well
as intuitive thinking or great organisational skills.
What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a learning difficulty
that affects the ability to produce written language.
It may present as difficulties with spelling
or trouble putting thoughts on paper
with some people often finding it challenging
to convert the sounds of language into written form.
Words might be emitted or ordered incorrectly with verbs
and pronouns sometimes formed incorrectly.
People with dysgraphia are often able
to articulate themselves much more fluently in speech rather
than in writing.
What is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia, also known
as Developmental Coordination Disorder, is a common disorder
that affects movement and physical coordination.
It's actually estimated that around 3 to 5%
of adults in the UK have some kind of dyspraxia
with many people not diagnosed until adulthood.
Now, dyspraxia does not affect your intelligence.
It can affect your coordination skills though, for example,
tasks requiring balance, playing sports,
or even learning to drive a car.
Dyspraxia can also affect your fine motor skills, such
as writing or using small objects.
If you want to find out more, you can click the link
below.
What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological
or brain condition that causes a person
to make involuntary sounds and movements called ticks.
In the UK it's thought to affect
around 1% of the population.
Now it usually starts during childhood, but the ticks
and other symptoms can improve after several years
and sometimes go away completely.
Now, unfortunately, there's no cure for Tourette syndrome,
but treatments such as behavioural therapies can
help to manage symptoms.
For more information, you can click the link below.
How common are neurodiverse conditions?
So the current estimation is that
around one in seven people in the UK are neurodiverse.
The variety and severity of neurodiverse conditions vary
and more research is needed
to understand this subject further, as well as awareness
of neurodiverse conditions
and access to diagnosis, which will really help
to know the true prevalence of neurodiverse conditions.
How can I support a friend or family member with a neurodiverse condition?
Everyone who's neurodiverse is unique
and it can be difficult to know how to best support them.
Here's my three top tips.
Firstly, be aware of their specific needs in different
circumstances and walks of life,
and you can do this by actively, patiently listening to them
and asking questions to further your understanding on
how it affects them, and how you can best support them.
Secondly, do your research.
There are many misconceptions around neurodiverse people,
and by educating yourself about their specific condition,
you'll also get a better understanding of their needs
or communication style.
Finally, like with anything, just be there for them
with any condition that may cause challenges
making sure a loved one knows you're there for them
to support as they need is really important.
What are the values and strengths of neurodiversity?
We all have things we're naturally good at
and things we're not so good at.
Neurodivergent people are no different
and often have unique skills and talents.
For example, depending on the individual,
they might be particularly good at things like problem
solving, logical thinking, creativity, innovation,
consistency, thinking outside the box, spotting patterns
and trends, retaining information, data analysis, attention
to detail, taking risks and pushing boundaries.
For that reason, it's no surprise
that many businesses now look to actively employ people
that are neurodiverse.
What symptoms should I look out for?
There's a range of signs or symptoms to be aware of,
and each one can be unique to the individual.
Now, you may display certain traits
or may have difficulties in work or school environment.
You may also struggle with changes in life or work patterns.
The children under the age of 16
teachers within your child's school may have flagged some
symptoms with you and should be able to support you
and your child on getting tested
for a neurodiverse condition.
If you have any questions
or concerns, speak to your child's school
who may have a special educational needs and disability
or SEND for short, team,
and you can also do some research online using credible
sources like Bupa or the NHS websites.
You can also speak to your GP
for further support on next steps.
How do I know if my child is neurodiverse?
If your child shows possible signs
and symptoms of neurodiversity, you can have a chat
with their teacher at school or a health advisor.
Often, the school themselves may highlight the potential
that your child has a neurodiverse conditions.
You can also discuss symptoms with your GP
to delve into it into more detail.
Make sure you do your own research, review the symptoms,
and write down notes ahead and
after your conversations to really help you prepare
and remember what has been discussed.
If you do get a diagnosis for your child,
check the condition specific helplines, resources
and support channels for ongoing support.
Where can I learn more about neurodiversity?
There's some great online resources
where you can learn more about neurodiversity.
For example, some of the best places you can get support
include the Bupa website, the NHS website,
National Autistic Society, ADHD Aware,
British Dyslexia Association, as well
as the Donaldson Trust, or the Society for Neurodiversity.
There's also another great JAAQ video featuring Ellie
Middleton, who talks about her own personal experience
and discusses conditions in more detail.
There's also Bupa's Neurodiversity toolkit on
Bupa.co.uk, which is designed for the workplace
and includes helpful tools, manager's guides, as well
as resources and other helpful website sources
for further information about neurodiverse conditions.
How can these conditions impact my work life?
Neurodiverse conditions impacting your work life really
depend on the condition and the severity.
Remember, your employer has a legal duty to work with you
to make reasonable workplace adjustments
to support you at work.
There are supportive tools
and equipment which your employer may consider
that can help you with work.
For example, speech to text
and mind mapping software, as well as dictation tools
or dual screens and so on.
How can I support a neurodiverse team member?
As an employer or manager, you can recognise
and nurture the unique skills
of neurodivergent employees while also supporting them
through any individual challenges they may face at work.
Reasonable workplace adjustments are actual legal duty
for employers and are really important
to support neurodivergent employees
and make them feel valued, supported, and part of the team.
Now, this can include adaptations of technology
or workplace equipment, as well
as considerations like assigning work tasks appropriately,
allowing regular breaks or flexible work hours,
clear communications, and having regular one-to-one
sessions, which help to understand the way they prefer
to communicate and be communicated with.
And such adaptations can be done in conjunction
with occupational health
or HR support if your workplace has them.
You can give further knowledge
and understanding of neurodiversity via additional learning
support or tapping into resources available from your
organisation or online.
For example, there's the Bupa guide for managers as well
as Bupa articles online.
There's also CIPD who are the professional body for HR
and people development, and they have a great neurodiversity
resource as well as ACAS.org.uk who work with employers
and employees to improve workplace relationships.
What benefits can a neurodiverse employee bring to the workplace?
There are lots of unique
and valuable abilities that a neurodiverse person
can bring to a workplace.
This might include things like ability to focus
for extended periods, multitasking,
being calm under pressure, thinking outside of the box,
analytical focus, as well as attention
to detail just to name a few.
Now, that's why many businesses now are actively looking
to hire neurodiverse employees for all the values
that I mentioned before that they can bring
to the workplace.
Is it helpful that I disclose I am neurodiverse to my employer?
Absolutely.
It can be beneficial to disclose to your manager so
that your neurodiverse condition can be accounted
for within the workplace.
It's actually their legal duty to do so,
making reasonable adjustments in the workplace.
Now, whenever you decide to speak to your manager,
this should be when you are comfortable to do so
and should enable you to get
to the support you need within the workplace.
Your employer can also signpost resources from the business
to support your neurodiverse condition.
Do I need to speak to my GP for suspected autism or ADHD?
For adults, the best route is to speak
to your GP and for children.
You may want to speak to your school health advisors
or their special educational needs
and disabilities coordinator or SENCO team for short.
Do your research. That's the really important part of this.
Review the symptoms and write down notes ahead
of your conversation to help you prepare.
Now, a diagnosis is possible only once you've been referred
for a clinical evaluation by a GP
or another relevant healthcare professional,
or SENCO for a child at school.
My Bupa cover includes neurodiversity benefit. How can Bupa help me with a neurodiverse condition?
If you do have a Bupa scheme
with the neurodiversity benefit
and have a referral, do contact us today
to discuss how we can help.
Our schemes can include assessments for autism, ADHD,
dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia.
There's also useful content available on the Bupa website,
including our neurodiversity toolkit.
So, do have a browse online.
My Bupa cover doesn't include neurodiversity benefit. How can Bupa help me?
If you don't have a Bupa health scheme
with the neurodiversity benefit,
we can still help provide information and guidance.
There's great useful content available on the Bupa website,
including our neurodiversity toolkit.
So, do have a browse online.
If you have a Bupa health scheme without the neurodiversity
benefit, give the Anytime HealthLine team a call using the
telephone number on your policy documents
or within the Bupa Touch app.
ADHD
Those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have trouble concentrating, act on impulse or seem restless. While symptoms are likely to present themselves during childhood, they can also be present in adults too.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised and presented by a spectrum, meaning every individual's autism is unique. Read on to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder and understand how to provide support.
Neurodiversity: your questions answered
Our experts explore what it means to be neurodivergent, the different conditions and how you can support both yourself and loved ones.
Breaking down neurodiversity barriers
Our experts take a closer look at myths, misconceptions and how you can offer support.
Misconceptions about autism spectrum disorder
There can be misconceptions about causes of ASD and how it presents. But what are they?
What support do people with ADHD need?
ADHD affects the way someone thinks and behaves. We explain how you can support someone with ADHD.
Five myths about Tourette's syndrome
Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, Bianca Clark, debunks five common myths about Tourette's syndrome.
Understanding neurodiversity terms
Being aware of the different neurodiversity terms can help us to better understand ourselves or others who may be neurodivergent.
Celebrating neurodiversity
We're all very different in how we think, act and behave. It's what makes us individuals. Our experts discuss what is meant by neurodiversity and why it's something to celebrate.
Trailer:
The doctor will hear you now
Podcast | Trailer | Real stories
Watch in 3 minutes
Dr Zoe is joined by Christine McGuinness to discuss her experience of both ADHD and autism and Christine's experience of raising neurodivergent children.
Download the full episode on your usual podcast provider or check it out on our YouTube channel.
Speaker 1 What is the one thing you should never say to somebody who is neurodivergent?
Speaker 2 Oh, I think we're all a bit on the spectrum.
Right.
That, for me, is kind of like, no, you’re not.
There are neurotypical people.
Yep.
And there are neurodiverse people, and they are completely different.
Speaker 1 And I guess as somebody with autism that that's been your life, hasn't it?
You've been constantly trying to...
Speaker 2 Trying to fit in and never quite fitting in.
I always felt different, but I didn't know what or why.
I just thought, you know, like like everyone who told me growing off me, teachers, family.
Oh, she's she's on social.
She's just shy or, you know, sometimes come off a bit rude because I wouldn't mix with people.
so I didn't understand why I was like that.
Speaker 2 And when we children were just the same, I thought, well, it's obviously they’re just a bit like me, but I didn't realise that was because we're all autistic.
And now knowing everything that I know, I think knowledge is definitely power and it's key to improvement for all of us.
Speaker 3 And there's a 40% chance that a person will have autism as well as ADHD.
And if you add dyslexia into that and dyspraxia you've got that mix and then you've got very high mobility connected to ADHD.
So social anxiety—we're talking 80%.
Speaker 2 Yeah.
Speaker 3 So it's a complex disorder, whenever anybody presents.
That's why it has to be done by diagnostician who understands all those different conditions.
Speaker 1 But in your scenario, do you feel that the autism and the ADHD go hand in hand then?
Speaker 2 Yeah, definitely.
I can kind of tell now when I'm having more of an ADHD day.
If there's been a big change in life, or if I'm doing something that I'm not quite prepared for, me autism kind of takes over and I do go very insular, very into myself, very quiet.
Whereas when I'm having quite an ADHD day, that's when I'll kind of notice more like details and things will make me a bit more like more, more anxious, Speaker 2 I'm more on edge.
I'm like, yeah, I feel everything a lot more than on me typical autism days where I'm very much like, just keep yourself to myself and nice and quiet.
So I'm doing so much more now since my diagnosis.
I understand myself so much more.
I understand people in the world so much more than I ever did.
Speaker 2 And I just, I didn't get it before I stayed in.
I was a recluse for almost eight years.
I barely left the house.
I wouldn't be doing the events and the jobs and the stuff that I'm doing now if I did not have that diagnosis.
Speaker 3 Your journey really started with the diagnosis, which is what I've always said, that without that diagnosis being there and and getting over the barrier of seeking a diagnosis, you wouldn't have had this journey.
Speaker 2 The diagnosis for children, I think it's so important, it makes a huge difference.
If the diagnosed pre-school, that's incredible.
We're going to get help and support early when they need it.
But unfortunately for a lot of children, that diagnosis isn't coming until later on in life.
It can be when they finish school.
A lot of the waiting lists now are between 4 and 7 years, Speaker 2 which means, you know, hundreds of thousands of children all over the country going without support that they need.
I'd, say to anybody to just keep pushing.
I know it's hard, but just don't give up because you deserve that clarity.
Yeah.
You know, you deserve to know that you're not going mad.
You're not overthinking anything here.
Speaker 2 If you feeling that you fit that bracket, then go for it and get it clarified completely from a doctor.
Need more support with neurodiversity?
With or without insurance, we can help you
If you’re a Bupa health insurance customer
Some of our policies include a neurodiversity benefit. If you're unsure, please check your cover documents.
If you're covered, you can speak to a clinician and discuss in more detail.
If you need more support, call 0345 609 0111.
Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm
and bank holidays 8am to 1pm. We may record or monitor our calls
If you don’t have health insurance with us
No problem. There's a range of neurodiversity support available, including:
Can Bupa help you take control of your health?
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