I use NT and ND because I don't want to exclude anyone and because if I were to describe myself using other terms it woud be an alphabet like it is with LBGTQI+ and woe betide you if you miss someone out.

I often wonder why so many things are being reclassified as ND, like dyslexia or Bi-Polar, I wonder if this is overstretching neurodiversity? 

I get annoyed when peope say we're all on the spectrum too, even though I used the term as the title of a recent thread, to me a spectrum has ends and a middle and various points along it, which was why I asked if someone could be profoundly NT?

I'm not a big fan of these wheel things, I find them confusing and not informative enough. So much has changed since I was diagnosed 13 years ago I can't keep up. Maybe it's a sign of me getting older? 

TheCatWoman said:

I often wonder why so many things are being reclassified as ND, like dyslexia or Bi-Polar, I wonder if this is overstretching neurodiversity? 

It helps to understand the meaning of neurodiverse. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity

The neurodiversity paradigm is a framework for understanding human brain function that considers the diversity within sensory processing, motor abilities, social comfort, cognition, and focus as neurobiological differences. 

Neurodivergences include 
autism, 
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 
bipolar disorder (BD), 
developmental prosopagnosia, 
developmental speech disorders, 
dyslexia, 
dysgraphia, 
dyspraxia, 
dyscalculia, 
dysnomia, 
intellectual disability, 
obsessive–compulsive disorder, 
schizophrenia, 
sensory processing disorder (SPD), 
synesthesia, and 
Tourette syndrome.

They do all seem to have similar origins so are logically grouped.

TheCatWoman said:

So much has changed since I was diagnosed 13 years ago I can't keep up. Maybe it's a sign of me getting older? 

I don't think it is an age thing, more of an effort thing. Before you would have tried to learn and understand but that can be a lot of work to keep abreast of all the developments.

Do you keep up with the things that fascinate you? You do say you read a great deal so you probably just don't allocate time and energy to keeping up to date on this ND stuff - no judgement, just something that may explain it.

Iain said:

It helps to understand the meaning of neurodiverse

Whilst it certainly helps to understand what neurodiverse means, I’m afraid that you happen to be an example of someone who currently doesn’t, and who (mis)uses it here a lot. 

If you would be willing to invest some time and effort in learning the terminology, then your posts would be SO much more helpful to people (rather than confusing or misleading) - and they would also help to foster awareness of, and support for, the overall concept of neurodiversity.

Further down (in a purple font) I have pasted an AI summary, which does a fair job of explaining the terminology. 

Unfortunately, you routinely misdescribe people who are neurodivergent as instead being “neurodiverse”.   

Some recent examples:

• “The uni should have support available for neurodiverse students so do you know if she has registered with them to access these?” (here)
  
  
• “Do you know if one or both of her parents are neurodiverse?” (here)
  
  
• “I think most people are very sensitive to having their mistakes highlighted but neurodiverse people often have their reactions magnfied through a combination of cPTSD and poor emotional regulation.” (here)
  
  
• In your reply above, you also presented a list of neurodivergent conditions as if they explain what neurodiverse means (which they don't).

Your usage is not what’s intended under the neurodiversity model; instead, it conflicts with it and confuses readers about its core principles. To quote from Judy Singer, who was the first to theorise and publish on the subject:

"What Neurodiversity is NOT

Since "Diversity" does not mean "Disability"

1. Neurodiversity is NOT a synonym for "Neurological Disability". 

2. Neurodiverse refers to a place, not an individual.

Some advocates want to insist that an individual can be neurodiverse in themselves, because they have different tendencies. This is also absurd unless they have more than one individual nervous system in their bodies. And also it would be a reversion to the medical model of disability. 

Neurodiverse:

- Describes a space, not a person.

- Is literally an "unreal word" in the same sense as an "unreal number", since every location that has more than one individual in it is "Neurodiverse".

- Preferably don’t use it. Use Neurodivergent/Distinct/Minority etc."

I’ve shared these resources before, but will repeat them here:

Emergent Divergence - Neurodiversity: the Basics

NAS - Autism and Neurodiversity

Reflections on Neurodiversity - Judy Singer's Official Definition of Neurodiversity ©

I do appreciate that there is no shortage of people online (including some researchers and medical professionals) who have also misunderstood and used terminology in ways that doesn't align with the model. But we have a great opportunity, here in this forum, to use neuroaffirming language accurately - including to help others learn and use it, too. This is all to our own benefit, as well as that of others.  

A brief overview of neurodiversity and key terms (AI-generated):

Neurodiversity is the concept that the natural variation in how human brains function is a normal and valuable part of human life, much like diversity in gender or ethnicity. It is a biological fact that no two brains are exactly the same. 

The term challenges the idea of a single "normal" or "typical" brain and frames differences not as deficits or disorders, but as natural variations. 

Key Terms Explained 

• Neurodiversity: This is an umbrella term that refers to the diversity of all people's brains globally. The whole of society is neurodiverse, encompassing all neurotypes.
• Neurodivergent: This term describes an individual whose brain processes information in a way that is different from what is considered "typical" by society's dominant standards.
• Neurotypical: This describes people whose brain functions and processes information in the way society generally expects. 

Common Neurodivergent Conditions 

The term neurodivergent is often used in the context of specific conditions, which are viewed as forms of neurodivergence, or "neurominorities": 

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Dyslexia (difficulty with reading)
• Dyspraxia (difficulty with coordination)
• Dyscalculia (difficulty with math)
• Tourette syndrome
• Sensory processing differences 

The Neurodiversity Movement 

Originating in the 1990s and led by autistic self-advocates, the neurodiversity movement is a social justice initiative that aims to increase acceptance and inclusion for all neurodivergent people. It advocates for: 

• Valuing and respecting all brain types equally.
• Recognizing that challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals often stem from societal barriers and a lack of support or accommodations, rather than inherent flaws.
• Promoting a strengths-based approach that highlights unique abilities

With the number of pages you can read in a day this should only take a couple of hours...

It may help you to understand current terminology.

Calling people names again? (pedant being an offensive term commonly used against autistic people, usually by NT people). 

And, I know this has been explained to you before - you can call yourself an autist all you like but again it may be considered offensive if used by NT people, so best not to label others with it.

Bunny said:

it certainly helps to understand what neurodiverse means

From https://www.dictionary.com/browse/neurodiverse

neurodiverse

1. having or relating to atypical neurological traits and ways of thinking

Bunny said:

Neurodiverse refers to a place, not an individual.

I think you may need to reconsider this definition in light of what the dictionary says, but what do I know?

Yours, 

A neurodiverse individual.

never to late to learn

Wow - I guess such pedantry could only come from an autist.

Thank you for pointing out my evil deeds - I must do better, if only my neurodiverse traits didn't include resistance to change 

Wow - I guess such pedantry could only come from an autist.

Thank you for pointing out my evil deeds - I must do better, if only my neurodiverse traits didn't include resistance to change 

Calling people names again? (pedant being an offensive term commonly used against autistic people, usually by NT people). 

And, I know this has been explained to you before - you can call yourself an autist all you like but again it may be considered offensive if used by NT people, so best not to label others with it.

never to late to learn