Neurodivergent test: for anxiety, depression in adults and children (2023)

In 1998, Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, coined the term "neurodiversity."¹. This was an inclusive word meant to acknowledge that every brain is different and evolves uniquely from one another. In fact, you can think of a brain in the same way that you think of snowflakes or fingerprints. Each is totally unique from the other, no two are the same. This is important when considering how a person develops and when determining if a person is sick. Instead of simply judging whether a person is functioning normally, consider that their "normal" is different from the normal state of others. For example, it's not uncommon for an adult to learn to draw later in life compared to a child with autism spectrum disorder who is naturally better at drawing.¹. A neurodivergent test can help you understand yourself and how he learns, processes, and leads his life.

While neurodiversity recognizes inclusiveness in the different patterns of development that each person experiences, neurodivergent is a unique term that recognizes that the child in this example has different abilities.². So how do you test for neurodivergence? There are many different self-tests, symptom tests, and even neurodivergent music tests that can help determine if you are neurodivergent.

neurodivergente

Neurodivergent is just a fancy word to describe anyone who has differences in their brain that affect how it works.¹. The term itself is quite broad, referring to disorders ranging from learning disabilities to more medical abnormalities. However, don't let the connotation fool you, because being neurodivergent has many strengths and weaknesses of its own. For example, some people who are neurodivergent will be better able to visualize and solve complicated math problems, and may even have better memories.¹!

The opposite of neurodivergent is neurotypical.¹. Based on what neurodivergence entails, I'm sure the term neurotypical is self-explanatory. It simply refers to people who do not have differences in brain function or corresponding changes in their strengths and weaknesses.¹. In these people, their cognitive profile corresponds to what is considered normal in our population.². On the other hand, neurodivergent individuals do not have a corresponding normal cognitive profile.².

What are some symptoms of neurodivergence?

Classifying yourself as a neurodivergent person is not as simple as looking at a list of symptoms.¹. In fact, being neurodivergent is not really a medical term or diagnosis. It simply refers to a difference in brain function. To illustrate, take the example of 2 people with the same condition.

Let's say this condition has 6 main symptoms. Person 1 has the first 3 symptoms on the list, while person 2 has the last 3. Although they both share the same condition, they each have different signs and symptoms, proving that they are neurodivergent.¹. Bottom Line: Being neurodivergent doesn't come with a list of symptoms, it's more of a measure of comparison.

Since tracking your symptoms may not directly help you determine if you are neurodivergent, keeping a journal may be your best bet! The CareClinic Journal provides you with a blank sheet of paper to write down exactly how you feel, process, and resolve the situations you face. These notes are useful to show your therapist, psychiatrist, or any doctor you may see to help them understand your unique cognitive process. With this information, concluding if you are neurodivergent is much less complex!

The three types of neurodiversity

Applied Neurodiversity

Applied neurodiversity includes conditions a person is born with that are not considered health conditions.³. These types of conditions generally include difficulties with gross motor control, number concepts, and reading.³. Some examples are:

• For example, dyscalculia: Difficulty understanding numbers and applying related concepts and calculations.³.
• Dyslexia: A language processing difficulty that affects reading, writing, and speaking.³.
• Like dyspraxia: a difficulty planning and executing movements with implications for intellectual, social, emotional, and sensory development.³.

Clinical Neurodiversity

Clinical neurodiversity includes conditions a person is born with and health conditions³. These conditions generally relate to communication, social skills, behavior, and impulsivity.³. Some examples of neurodiverse clinical conditions are:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)– a developmental condition that affects a person's attention span, impulse control, mood, and activity³.
• For exampleautism– A condition that affects a person's communication, social interaction, impulsivity, interest, and sensory regulation³.
• For example, intellectual disability: Intellectual disability can be defined as a condition characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, encompassing a range of everyday social and practical skills. This condition begins during the developmental phase, which precedes adulthood, and usually lasts a lifetime. This, in turn, affects thinking, learning, reasoning, and problem solving.³
• Such as Tourette's syndrome: a condition that affects a person's nervous system causing uncontrollable and repetitive movements and vocalizations.³.

acquired neurodiversity

Acquired neurodiverse disorders include neurological differences that result from a medical condition that the person was not born with or from an injury.³. This type of neurodiversity usually resolves as the disease of the lesion heals or worsens as the condition progresses negatively.³. Some examples are:

• For example, an acquired brain injury: damage to the brain from an external event, often affecting memory, personal organization, communication, and concentration.³.
• For example, diseases: These can include Parkinson's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, stroke, and more. For example, they often affect the nervous system and lead to a neurological condition related to the disease.³.
• Like mental health: These conditions affect cognition and include anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The causes of these disorders vary from one person to another and are considered acquired since they can be episodic and transitory.³.

Is social anxiety a neurodivergent disorder?

Of the conditions that we have just enumeratedMental healthis probably the one that caught your eye. Many of us have or experience a mental disorder in our lives. In fact, there is a projected lifetime risk of having a mental disorder for almost 51%.⁴! Mental health is the focus of attention today. So what is the link between mental health and neurodivergence? Is social anxiety neurodivergent? Or is fear generally neurodivergent? And depression, is depression neurodivergent?

Is fear neurodivergent?

Mental health in the neurodiversity paradigm is difficult to understand. However, there are many statistics that support higher rates of disorders such as depression and anxiety coexisting with autism, dyspraxia, and ADHD. For example, 3 out of 10 children with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder.⁵. Likewise, autism has been linked to high rates of anxiety, mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, personality disorders, and more.⁶.

Much of this can be explained by looking at the genetics behind it. Take ADHD, for example, many of the genes associated with ADHD also have an impact on dopamine transporter dysfunction.⁷. Dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter that underlies motivation and enthusiasm. Remove or reduce the neurotransmitter, motivation and optimism will disappear. This increases the risk of developing a mental disorder such as depression.⁶. This dopamine imbalance is also found in autism, Tourette syndrome, and dyspraxia.⁶. Furthermore, this correlation proves that well-defined neurodivergent disorders are associated with many mental disorders.⁶.

Fitting mental health into the neurodivergent paradigm

When it comes to mental health, the lines are blurring. For example, if a child grows up in an unhealthy environment and develops autistic functioning as a result of an event, how would you classify it?⁸? Are they neurotypically damaged or autistic and neurodivergent? Even if they weren't born neurodivergent, does that exclude them from the generic term?

Most will agree that the answer is no.⁸. This is where the idea of ​​acquired neurodivergence was born. You may acquire a neurodivergent mindset due to your environment, but this can probably be remedied with the right intervention. So the short answer: for most people, yes! Mental illnesses, although considered neurodivergent, fall primarily in the acquired category.

neurodivergent testes

If you must remember one thing, neurodivergence is simply a catch-all term for a unique way of thinking and working. Disorders that exhibit this alternative cognitive processing are all neurodivergent disorders. Because neurodivergence does not have a specific list of symptoms, the neurodivergent test to find out if your brain is working differently is simply an extensive set of tests for known neurodivergent disorders.

This can include autism spectrum testing, dyslexia testing, ADHD, and more. A neurodivergent spectrum test uses questions from all of these types of tests to diagnose you with one of these disorders. Your self-assessment answers help you recognize diversity and uniqueness. This helps determine their behavioral differences more generally. In general, a test for neurodivergent disorders aims to compare neurotypical versus neurodivergent processing patterns.

While online self-tests are a good place to start and are readily available, you will of course get the best and most accurate results by consulting your doctor and using official tests. Whether you use an online test, CareClinic in-app self-tests, or another screening tool, these brain testing resources are often free for adults and a great way to learn more about yourself.

RADS-R test

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale is an example of a neurodivergent test.⁹. This test, also known as the RAADS-R, is simply a screening tool for autism spectrum disorders. Consisting of 80 self-report questions based on approved and implemented diagnostic criteria, the RAADS-R test assesses where the patient is on the autism spectrum and thus acts as a type of neurodivergent spectrum test. These questions are intended to evaluate 4 subscales: social relationship (39 items), limited interest (14 items), language (4 items) and sensorimotor symptoms (20 items). Participants must answer each statement on a scale of 0 to 3. Each number has meaning, for example, zero means the statement is never true, while 3 means the statement has been true all your life.⁹.

neurodivergent music quiz

8-dimensional audio is a special type of effect that separates different parts of the recording.¹⁰. Consequently, different parts of the record are played through different headphones (or speakers), creating a unique sensory experience. Imagine that you are in a large concert hall and several musicians and singers are walking around you in space: this imitates music in 8 dimensions. Lately, many neurodivergent people, people with ADHD, claim that listening to 8D helps them focus and reduce sensory overload.¹⁰. So while this is less of an online test and more of a self-assessment tool, listening to this specific type of music can help you answer the age-old question: am I neurodivergent? Disclaimer: This is more of a theory than a studied and tested tool, so always proceed with caution and see your doctor for a more formal test!

Bangor Dyslexia Test

The Bangor Dyslexia Test (BDT) is a brief and simple screening test that is used across all age groups, making it ideal for identifying neurodivergent children and adults.¹¹. The test focuses on verbal and phonological processing skills, without taking into account reading and writing skills. The test uses 10 subtests: recognizing left and right (8 questions), polysyllabic words (5 questions), subtraction (6 questions), tables (3 questions), months ahead (1 question), months ago (1 question), numbers ahead (12 questions), reversed digits (6 questions), B-D confusion (1 question) and family frequency (1 question).

These subtests are designed to assess a variety of applicable skills, including verbal/phonological working memory, executive functioning memory and sequencing, arithmetic, and verbal short-term memory. In addition, the test can be carried out easily and without time restrictions. Furthermore, the lack of reading and spelling tests ensures that only distal markers of dyslexia are tested.¹¹.

Other types of neurodivergent tests

Remember that neurodivergence is a way of identifying yourself and your way of thinking. However, some people with certain disorders may choose not to be classified as neurodivergent.¹. Others without "typical" neurodivergent conditions may choose to do so.¹.

There are many tests for conditions such as anxiety (the GAD-7 test), screening for bipolar disorder, or dyspraxia questionnaires; They don't necessarily test everyone for "neurodivergence." However, a person may or may not identify as neurodivergent along with their condition.

There isn't a set of medical criteria that you have to meet to be neurodivergent, it's a much broader term. Keep in mind that the disorders we list in our talk on neurodivergence are only the most common disorders in people who self-identify as neurodivergent.¹. There are no hard or fast rules.

The CareClinic app has some of these screening tools built right in! The Scales and Scores tab gives you easy access to the GAD-7 test, as well as an Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and a Mood Disorders Questionnaire. These tools are key to discovering what you might be experiencing and how to change your lifestyle to better accommodate how you function!

Use CareClinic to test your neurodivergence

Neurodivergence is difficult to assess. However, by tracking your symptoms, experiences, and the way you go about your daily life, you can determine if you have a specific neurodivergent disorder. EITHERSymptomTracker, therapy tracker, diary and factor guide help you capture a complete snapshot of your health.

How do I know if I'm neurodivergent?

As a concrete example, you can choose to record your emotions in the app. Using the Symptom Tracker's correlation graph, you can identify periods when your arousal or hyperactivity is quite high compared to normal times.

Instead, you can record any depressive episodes or other emotions. By looking at your chart, you can identify patterns of thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms that correspond to disorders like bipolar, ADHD, and anxiety.

Neurodivergent spectrum test

Additionally, the CareClinic app provides an easily accessible PDF on their server to help you measure your neurodivergence. This PDF works like a neurodivergent spectrum test. If you're wondering, "Am I neurodivergent?", this easy-to-use and accessible online test can help you determine if and how much your brain function deviates from the "norm." These resources are a great springboard for understanding yourself and how to optimize your learning and health. This also allows you to share your results with your doctor to further your diagnosis and keep track of your health.

Monitoring and managing your health is always of utmost importance. CareClinic makes it easy and convenient by storing all your data in one place! CareClinic is dedicated to helping you be the best version of yourself that you can be, whether you are neurodivergent or not.

Neurodivergent singing test

The Neurodivergent Music Test is a tool to assess whether a person has neurological differences that may affect their ability to process and understand music. This test can be used to identify people who might benefit from specialized music training or housing. The test consists of two parts: a listening comprehension part and an interpretation part. In the listening section, the candidate is asked to listen to a song and answer questions about the lyrics. In the performance part, the candidate is asked to sing or play the song on an instrument.

The Neurodivergent Music Test is not a diagnostic tool and should not be used to make decisions about the diagnosis or treatment of an individual. However, it can be a useful tool to identify people who could benefit from specific music training or housing. If you are interested in taking the neurodivergent music test, consult with an educational psychologist.

references

1. Cleveland Clinic. (2022, June 02).Neurodivergente.Retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent
2. Legault, M., Bourdon, J-N. and Poirier, P. (2021). From neurodiversity to neurodivergence: the role of epistemic and cognitive marginalization.synthesis, 199,12843-12868. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-021-03356-5
3. Skelling, J. (2019).Neurodiversity: an overview.The Educational Pole. Retrieved from: https://theeducationhub.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Neurodiversity-An-overview.pdf
4. Jones, P.B. (2013). Mental health disorders in adults and their age of onset.The British Journal of Psychiatry, 202,s5-s10. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119164
5. Tannock, R (2009). ADHD with anxiety disorders. In T. E. Brown (ed.),ADHD Comorbidities: Manual for ADHD Complications in Children and Adults(S. 131-155). American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
6. Kirby, A. (2021, Aug. 26).Is there a link between neurodiversity and mental health?Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/the blog/pathways-progress/202108/there-is-a-link-between-neurodiversity-and-mental-health
7. Volkow, N.D., Wang, G-J., Collins, S.H., Wigal, T.L., Newcorn, J.H., Telang, F., Fowler, J.S., Zhu, W., Logan, J., Ma, Y., Pradhan, K., Wong, C. and Swanson, J.M. (2009). Validation of the dopamine reward pathway in ADHD.JAMA, 302(10), 1084-1091. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1308
8. Chapman, R. (2019, July 30).Mental disorder in the paradigm of neurodiversity.Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/neurodiverse-age/201907/mental-disorder-within-the-neurodiversity-paradigm
9. Jones, S. L., Johnson, M., Alty, B., & Adamou, M. (2021). The efficacy of RAADS-R as a screening tool for adult populations with ASD.Autism Research and Treatment, 2021.https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9974791
10. Couneene, B. (sd).Why ADHD and Neurodivergent People Like 8D Audio. neuropadia. Retrieved from: https://neuropedia.com/8d-audio-autism-adhd/
11. Reynolds, A, E and Caravolas, M (2016). Evaluation of the Bangor Dyslexia Test (BDT) for use in adults.dyslexia, 22(1), 27-46. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1520