What does it mean to be neurodivergent?

Being neurodivergent means that your brain works differently from the statistical norm (neurotypical). Neurodivergence includes ADHD, autism (ASD), dyslexia, high intellectual abilities, and high sensitivity (HSP), among others. They are not illnesses or disorders that need to be 'cured' but natural variations of neurodevelopment that come with specific strengths and challenges.

Can neurodivergence be diagnosed in adults?

Yes, many neurodivergent people do not receive a diagnosis until adulthood. This is especially common in women and people who have learned to 'mask' their differences. Adult diagnosis can be liberating because it finally explains a lifetime of experiences and allows access to appropriate support. A specialized neuropsychological assessment is the path to diagnosis.

Can someone be neurodivergent in more than one way?

Yes, co-occurrence (formerly called 'comorbidity') is very common. For example, many people with ADHD also have dyslexia, or autistic people may also have high abilities. It is estimated that up to 70% of autistic people have at least one other associated neurodivergence. Each combination creates a unique profile with its own strengths and needs.

Do neurodivergent people need psychological therapy?

Neurodivergence itself does not require treatment, but it can benefit from psychological support in several contexts: managing the stress and anxiety of living in a neurotypical world, organizational and executive function strategies, improving self-esteem and self-knowledge, processing experiences of bullying or rejection, and emotional support during the diagnosis and acceptance process.

What is the difference between neurodivergence and a mental disorder?

Neurodivergence is a natural variation of neurodevelopment that someone is born with (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, etc.), while a mental disorder (depression, anxiety, PTSD) is a mental health condition that may appear at any point in life and that usually has an onset and resolution. Neurodivergent people may develop mental disorders (in fact, they have a higher risk), but neurodivergence itself is not an illness.

Neurodivergence: What It Is, Types, and Characteristics

Neurodivergence: ADHD, autism, dyslexia, high abilities, and high sensitivity

Xènia Capel Salcedo 5 March 2026 10 min read

What is neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence is a term that recognizes that human brains do not all work the same way. Coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in 1998, the concept of neurodiversity proposes that neurological differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or high abilities are not "defects" but rather natural variations of neurodevelopment, in the same way that variations exist in eye color or height.

A person is "neurodivergent" when their brain works differently from the statistical norm (called "neurotypical"). This doesn't mean better or worse — it means their way of perceiving, processing, and responding to the world has its own characteristics, which bring both unique strengths and specific challenges.

Types of neurodivergence

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD affects approximately 5-7% of the population. It is characterized by difficulties with sustained attention, regulating impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. People with ADHD often stand out for their creativity, capacity for hyperfocus on topics of interest, divergent thinking, and energy. Diagnosis in adults, especially in women, is still well below the actual figure.

Autism (ASD)

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a neurodivergence that affects social communication, sensory processing, and behavioral patterns. Far from the stereotype, the autism spectrum is very wide: from people with high support needs to people who, especially women, "mask" their differences so effectively that they go unnoticed for decades.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurodivergence that affects reading, writing, and phonological processing. It affects between 5-10% of the population. People with dyslexia often excel at visual thinking, creative problem-solving, and big-picture vision. With proper support, academic difficulties can be significantly compensated for.

High Intellectual Abilities

High abilities (giftedness, exceptional talent) are considered a neurodivergence because they involve qualitatively different cognitive functioning: greater processing speed, network thinking, emotional intensity, and sensitivity. Far from the myth of guaranteed success, many people with high abilities suffer from maladjustment, anxiety, and depression if they don't receive proper support.

High Sensitivity (HSP)

The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is a temperament trait present in 15-20% of the population. It is characterized by deeper sensory processing, greater emotional reactivity, perception of subtleties, and a tendency toward overstimulation. Although it is not a clinical diagnosis, high sensitivity is increasingly considered within the spectrum of neurodivergence.

Co-occurrence: when neurodivergences combine

A fundamental aspect of neurodivergence is its tendency to co-occur. Some common combinations:

ADHD + Autism: it is estimated that 30-50% of autistic people also have ADHD
ADHD + Dyslexia: around 30-40% of people with ADHD have dyslexia
High abilities + ADHD/Autism: "twice exceptionality" can mask both conditions
High Sensitivity + any neurodivergence: sensitivity intensifies the experience

Masking: the invisible cost

Many neurodivergent people, especially women and those socialized as feminine, learn from a young age to "mask" their differences: imitating neurotypical behaviors, suppressing stims, forcing eye contact, hiding overstimulation. Masking allows them to "pass as neurotypical" but comes at an enormous psychological cost: chronic exhaustion (autistic burnout), anxiety, depression, the feeling of being an "impostor," and loss of identity.

Psychological support for neurodivergent people

Neurodivergence is not an illness that needs to be "cured." Psychological support focuses on:

Self-knowledge: understanding your own neurodivergent profile, strengths, and needs
Practical strategies: organization, sensory regulation, time management, communication
Self-esteem: repairing the damage of feeling "different" or "defective" for years
Trauma processing: bullying, rejection, misunderstanding (EMDR can be very useful)
Burnout management: recovering from the exhaustion of masking

Do you recognize yourself?

If, while reading this article, you feel that many things "fit" with your experience, I invite you to explore it. Adult diagnosis is possible and often transformative. I offer a free informational session where we can talk about your case in complete confidentiality.