The Divergent Voice

By: NeuroSpark Health

"High-functioning" autism in women often goes overlooked. This is more accurately called high-masking. Learn how to identify the traits of high-masking autism.

By: NeuroSpark Health

AuDHD is a term that many members of the neurodivergent community use to describe the experience of being both autistic and ADHD. AuDHD is not a clinical term, and it doesn’t appear in the DSM, but it is a lived experience term created by the community that is both short and sweet.

By: NeuroSpark Health

The term aspie quiz is a commonly searched phrase online, referencing a self-assessment tool that explores traits associated with autism, particularly those linked to what we used to refer to as Asperger's Syndrome.  The quiz can provide insight into neurodivergent traits, but it’s important to contextualize its use within the more modern understandings of autism, including the shift away from Asperger's as a diagnostic term.

By: Cat Salladin

Level 1 autism (also less affirmingly referred to as ASD level 1) is one of the three levels of autism as laid out in the DSM-5.

By: Dani Rodwell

Autism has historically been framed in a negative light by the mental health field, society, culture, and individuals. For too long, autistic people have been continuously pathologized and labeled as disordered individuals in need of “fixing” or “curing” (this is especially perpetuated by the field of Applied Behavioral Analysis-ABA.)

By: NeuroSpark Health

The "functional freeze state" is a state where a person, often an autistic or otherwise neurodivergent individual, feels physically or mentally immobilized while still appearing to function on a basic level.

By: NeuroSpark Health

Touch is often viewed as a fundamental part of human interaction. Whether it’s a handshake, a hug, or a comforting pat on the shoulder, many people rely on physical contact as a way to connect and communicate. However, for some autistic people, touch can be an overwhelming, distressing, or even downright painful experience.

By: NeuroSpark Health

The fear of being perceived, which can also be described as the fear of “being seen,” is a particularly intense experience for many neurodivergent people.

By: NeuroSpark Health

Work anxiety is a pervasive issue for many, but for autistic people, it can be incredibly debilitating. The workplace can be an overwhelming environment for autistic individuals due to sensory overload, unpredictable social interactions, and pressure to meet neurotypical expectations.

By: Cat Salladin

Masking is a complex and often misunderstood behavior in neurodivergent individuals. It involves consciously or unconsciously hiding, suppressing, or altering certain aspects of one’s true self to conform to social expectations or to fit in with neurotypical norms. While masking can be a survival strategy, it is often exhausting and can lead to significant mental, emotional, and physical strain. Many neurodivergent individuals mask, which can prevent them from receiving accurate diagnoses until later in life.

By: NeuroSpark Health

When it comes to neurodiversity-affirming care, lived experience is invaluable. It is important to amplify AuDHD voices from individuals (and therapists!) in our community. It’s helpful for you to navigate your journey and know you’re not alone. So we decided to invite our own NeuroSpark team to share the best advice they’d give others and what they wish they'd known sooner.

By: Cat Salladin

ADHD is a neurotype that people of all ages can possess, but for many adults, getting diagnosed later in life can feel like a confusing and overwhelming process.

By: NeuroSpark Health

Alexithymia is a term that describes difficulty in identifying, expressing, or understanding one’s own emotions. It is not a diagnosis in and of itself, and there’s no formal alexithymia test, but rather a commonly neurodivergence-related trait that can affect how people experience and process their feelings.

By: Cat Salladin

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had hyperfixations. There were times where I would be so wrapped up in a fairy game or a book or videos about whatever topic I was focused on at the time, that I would forget to eat!

By: NeuroSpark Health

When someone without a holistic understanding of ADHD thinks of the neurotype, they likely think of a hyperactive boy or someone jokingly saying “squirrel”. However, ADHD encompasses far more than just struggling to pay attention to things or having a lot of energy.

By: Cat Salladin

The path toward understanding and recognizing autism in oneself is a deeply personal and nuanced process. For many adults, like myself, it begins with self-identification, a growing awareness that our experiences, behaviors, and ways of thinking align with what we’ve learned about autism.

By: Cat Salladin

While autism and ADHD have distinct characteristics, they share several overlaps, leading to a unique combination that can sometimes be both a challenge and a gift.

By: Cat Salladin

Autism is often described as existing as a spectrum. While this may bring to mind images of a two-dimensional line, with one end being “less autistic” and the other end being “more autistic”, in reality, the autism spectrum is better visualized as a pie graph of autistic traits, with each autistic person displaying each of those traits in varying degrees.

By: Cat Salladin

Sensory processing sensitivity is a trait characterized by a heightened response to sensory stimuli, such as sights, sounds, textures, smells, and even internal sensations like hunger or pain.

By: Dr. Julie Landry

Are you looking for a clinical psychologist with expertise in ADULT autism and ADHD in your local area? We know how challenging that can be! In fact, NeuroSpark was started based on our personal experiences and difficulties finding mental health specialists as neurodivergent adults.