Neurodiversity Infographics

Autism

Symptoms

• Difficulty with eye contact, social cues or small talk.
• Strong need for routine or repetitive movements (stimming).
• Over or under-sensitive to noise, light or textures.

Age & Gender

• Signs often appear by age 2 or 3, but diagnosis can happen at any age.
• Diagnosed more often in males.
• Females are frequently missed because they are better at masking symptoms.

Misconceptions

• People with autism feel empathy, but may show it differently.
• It’s a lifelong condition and not just for children.
• Not everyone is a genius. Abilities vary widely.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is based on observing behaviour and developmental history.
• Usually involves paediatricians, psychologists and speech therapists.

Support options

• Speech and Occupational Therapy help with daily living skills.
• There's no medication for autism itself.
• Peer support groups are vital for mental health.

Support

• Be direct and literal. Avoid sarcasm or hints.
• Lower lights and noise to reduce sensory overwhelm.
• Allow extra time for them to process information and respond.

ADHD

Symptoms

• Easily distracted, forgetful, or difficulty managing time, focus, and tasks.
• Fidgeting, inability to sit still, or a sense of inner restlessness.
• Interrupting others, difficulty waiting one's turn, or acting without thinking.

Age & Gender

• Symptoms usually appear before age 12, but persist into adulthood.
• Diagnosed more often in males.
• Females are often missed as they tend to have inattentive type ADHD, rather than hyperactive-impulsive type.

Misconceptions

• It’s not 'bad behaviour' or lack of willpower.
• It’s not just a childhood phase. Many adults live with undiagnosed ADHD.
• It’s not caused by bad parenting, too much sugar, or screen time.

Diagnosis

• Requires a referral from a GP to a specialist (usually a psychiatrist).
• The assessment involves interviews, questionnaires, and reviewing childhood history to see if symptoms impact daily life.

Support options

• Medication can help improve focus and reduce impulsivity.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or ADHD coaching helps with organisation and emotional regulation.

Support

• Give clear, written instructions rather than long verbal lists.
• Allow headphones or fidget tools to support those with sensory needs.
• Permit movement breaks, and try to avoid punishing timekeeping errors.

OCD

Symptoms

• Unwanted, intrusive thoughts causing anxiety.
• Anxiety is relieved through repetitive physical or purely mental actions.
• The relief is temporary, then the anxiety cycle returns.

Age & Gender

• Can start in childhood, but normally begins in late teens or early adulthood.
• Affects males and females roughly equally.
• The average diagnosis occurs 9 to 13 years after initial symptoms start.

Misconceptions

• It’s a serious condition, not just liking things neat.
• People cannot simply 'snap out of it' or choose to stop.
• People with OCD often know their fears are irrational but still feel the anxiety.

Diagnosis

• GP refers to a specialist mental health team for a detailed assessment.
• Doctors use medical criteria to identify obsessions and compulsions.
• Diagnosed when symptoms significantly impact daily life.

Support options

• CBT with exposure therapy helps face fears without rituals.
• Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can reduce symptom intensity.
• Peer support groups help reduce isolation.

Support

• Do not criticise or rush them during a ritual.
• Do not join in with their compulsions or offer reassurance.
• Keep a calm atmosphere to help lower general anxiety levels.

Dyslexia

Symptoms

• Difficulty learning to read, spelling, and decoding text.
• Trouble hearing or manipulating sounds in words.
• Challenges with sequencing, directions, and memory.

Age & Gender

• Often identified in primary school when children begin to learn to read and write.
• Historically diagnosed more in males, but current research suggests it affects all genders equally.

Misconceptions

• Dyslexia is a language processing difference, not a visual problem (seeing letters backwards).
• It has absolutely no connection to low intelligence or laziness.

Diagnosis

• Carried out by a specialist assessor or an Educational Psychologist.
• Assessments test memory, speed, and the ability to process word sounds.

Support options

• Assistive technology like text-to-speech software, screen readers, or coloured overlays.
• Structured, multisensory teaching methods help improve literacy skills.

Support

• Use plain, sans-serif fonts and pastel backgrounds, not bright white.
• Give verbal cues or diagrams rather than long text.
• Allow extra time for reading and processing.

Dyspraxia

Symptoms

• Poor balance, coordination and general clumsiness.
• Difficulty with fine motor skills like handwriting or tying shoelaces.
• Trouble planning and organising physical movements.

Age & Gender

• Symptoms usually appear in early childhood.
• Diagnosed more often in males.
• Females are often missed as avoiding active play or having better handwriting can mask issues.

Misconceptions

• It’s not just being 'clumsy' or lazy.
• Children will not simply grow out of it.
• It doesn’t only affect movement, it often impacts organisation and memory too.

Diagnosis

• Assessment by a paediatrician, occupational therapist, or physiotherapist.
• Tests measure motor skills compared to age norms.

Support options

• Occupational Therapy helps improve daily living skills.
• Physiotherapy helps improve core strength and balance.
• Adaptations like using a laptop can replace handwriting.

Support

• Break complex physical tasks into smaller steps.
• Allow extra time for movements like dressing or eating.
• Avoid criticism for messiness or dropping things.

Dyscalculia

Symptoms

• Difficulty understanding number concepts and arithmetic.
• Trouble telling time, counting change or estimating quantities.
• High anxiety when faced with mathematical tasks.

Age & Gender

• Signs appear early, often when learning to count or recognise numbers.
• Research suggests it affects males and females equally.

Misconceptions

• It’s not just being 'bad at maths' or lacking effort.
• It’s a neurological difference, not a sign of low intelligence.
• It’s not rare, just less frequently diagnosed than dyslexia.

Diagnosis

• Assessment by a specialist teacher or Educational Psychologist.
• Standardised tests measure number sense and calculation ability against age norms.

Support options

• Multisensory teaching using physical objects like counters.
• Technological aids like calculators or voice-activated apps.
• Focus on practical maths needed for daily life (e.g. money, time).

Support

• Provide reference charts or visual aids for numbers.
• Allow extra time for any task involving data or figures.
• Avoid putting them on the spot with mental maths questions.

Tourette’s Syndrome

Symptoms

• Involuntary movements like blinking, shrugging or head jerking (motor tics).
• Involuntary sounds like grunting, throat clearing or words (vocal tics).
• An uncomfortable physical urge or sensation before the tic happens.

Age & Gender

• Symptoms usually appear between ages 5 and 9.
• Males account for 75% to 80% of diagnoses.

Misconceptions

• Most people do not swear (coprolalia affects only about 10% of cases).
• Tics are not done for attention or bad behaviour.
• People cannot simply stop their tics.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosed when a person has multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic.
• Symptoms must have lasted for more than a year.

Support options

• Comprehensive Behavioural Intervention for Tics (CBIT) teaches strategies to manage tic urges.
• Medication may be used if tics cause pain, injury, or severe distress.
• Support groups help reduce stigma and improve self-esteem.

Support

• Ignore the tics completely. Do not stare, laugh, or comment.
• Do not tell them to stop or ask them to be quiet.
• Help reduce stress, as strong emotions can increase tics.

Anxiety

Symptoms

• Constant feeling of dread, racing thoughts or being 'on edge'.
• Heart palpitations, sweating, shaking or shortness of breath.
• Avoiding situations or places to escape the worry.

Age & Gender

• Can develop at any age, though frequently starts in adolescence.
• Females are roughly twice as likely to be diagnosed as males.

Misconceptions

• It's a medical condition, not drama or attention-seeking.
• People can't just 'snap out of it' or stop worrying.
• Panic attacks feel life-threatening. They aren’t an overreaction.

Diagnosis

• GP or psychiatrist assessment using questionnaires.
• Generalised anxiety disorder is diagnosed when uncontrollable worry persists for 6 months and impacts daily life.

Support options

• CBT helps change negative thought patterns.
• Medication can manage physical symptoms.
• Mindfulness and exercise support self-care.

Support

• Listen without judging or saying 'just calm down'.
• Ask what helps them during a panic attack before one happens.
• Understand that plans may change last minute if they feel overwhelmed.

Dysgraphia

Symptoms

• Handwriting is often illegible and poorly spaced.
• Holding a pen causes physical pain or cramping.
• Written work is noticeably weaker than their strong verbal skills.

Age & Gender

• It is usually identified in early childhood when learning to write.
• It affects all genders but is historically diagnosed more in males.

Misconceptions

• It is a neurological disconnect, not just 'messy handwriting' or laziness.
• It does not mean a person has low intelligence.
• They can have excellent physical coordination for everything else.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosed by an Educational Psychologist or Occupational Therapist.
• Assessments test fine motor skills and compare verbal ability to written output.

Support options

• There is no medication for dysgraphia.
• Occupational therapy improves hand strength and pencil grip.
• Peer support helps individuals share practical technology workarounds.

Support

• Allow the use of typing or speech-to-text software.
• Provide extra time for written tasks or accept verbal submissions.
• Provide pre-printed notes so they do not have to copy notes down.

Sensory Processing Disorder

Symptoms

• Over or under-sensitive to sensory stimuli.
• Difficulty filtering background noise.
• Emotional dysregulation when overwhelmed.

Age & Gender

• Often identified in early childhood.
• Diagnosed more often in males.
• Females are often missed due to masking.

Misconceptions

• It’s not bad behaviour, sensory input is genuinely overwhelming.
• Not the same as autism, though they often co-occur.
• Not something people can push through with willpower.

Diagnosis

• It isn't a separate diagnosis in the DSM-5, the main diagnostic manual.
• Often identified by an occupational therapist.
• Frequently co-occurs with other conditions.

Support options

• Sensory integration therapy with an Occupational Therapist.
• A personalised 'sensory diet' of daily activities.
• Environmental adjustments to reduce stimuli.

Support

• Offer quiet or low-stimulation workspaces.
• Reduce sensory triggers like flickering lights.
• Allow headphones, sunglasses, or fidget tools.

Auditory Processing Disorder

Symptoms

• Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments.
• Mishearing words, even with normal hearing ability.
• Needing instructions repeated or written down.

Age & Gender

• Often identified in childhood, but can persist into adulthood.
• Diagnosed more often in males.
• Females are often missed due to masking.

Misconceptions

• It’s not a problem with the ears.
• It’s not the same as ADHD, though they often co-occur.
• It’s not a sign of low intelligence or inattention.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosed by an audiologist, not a GP.
• Tests measure how the brain processes sound.
• Often identified alongside dyslexia or ADHD.

Support options

• Auditory training exercises to improve processing.
• Environmental changes to reduce background noise.
• Assistive technology such as live captions or remote microphones.

Support

• Face the person when speaking, and speak clearly and slowly.
• Reduce background noise in meetings where possible.
• Provide written follow-ups to verbal instructions.

This information isn't a diagnostic tool. If you recognise these symptoms in yourself or others, please contact a doctor.