Is ADHD Neurodivergent? What I Wish Someone Had Explained to Me

Understanding the relationship between ADHD and neurodivergence - and why it matters

When I first heard the term "neurodivergent," I had no idea it applied to me. I'd known about my ADHD since I was five, but somehow I thought neurodivergence was just about autism. It wasn't until I started diving deeper into my own journey that I realized I'd been part of the neurodivergent community my whole life without even knowing it.

If you're confused about whether ADHD counts as neurodivergent, you're definitely not alone. Let me break down what I wish someone had explained to me years ago.

The Simple Answer

Yes, ADHD is absolutely considered neurodivergent.

But let me explain what that actually means, because the terminology can be confusing and the implications are bigger than you might think.

What Does "Neurodivergent" Actually Mean?

The term "neurodivergent" was coined by autism advocate Kassiane Asasumasu in the late 1990s. It describes people whose brains work differently from what's considered "typical" or "neurotypical."

Neurodivergent includes:

• ADHD (all types)

• Autism

• Dyslexia

• Tourette's syndrome

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Bipolar disorder

• And other neurological differences

What it's NOT:

• A medical diagnosis

• A disorder that needs to be "cured"

• A limitation or deficit

• Something you "grow out of"

Instead, neurodivergence is a way of understanding that some brains are wired differently - and that's not inherently good or bad, it just is.

My Journey to Understanding

For most of my life, I thought having ADHD just meant I was broken in a very specific way. I had a diagnosis, sure, but I saw it as something wrong with me that needed to be managed, medicated, and minimized.

I didn't understand that my ADHD brain came with gifts alongside the challenges. I didn't know that my hyperfocus could be a superpower, that my pattern recognition was actually enhanced, that my emotional intensity wasn't just "too much" but was actually a feature of how my nervous system processes the world.

When I discovered I was part of a larger neurodivergent community, everything shifted. Suddenly I wasn't alone with my "weird" brain. I was part of a diverse group of people whose minds work beautifully differently.

Why the Label Matters

You might be thinking, "Okay, so ADHD is neurodivergent. So what?" But understanding this connection has been huge for me, and here's why:

It Shifts from Deficit to Difference

Instead of seeing my ADHD as something wrong that needs fixing, I can see it as a neurological difference that needs understanding and accommodation. This isn't just semantics - it completely changes how you approach living with ADHD.

It Connects You to Community

The neurodivergent community is vast, supportive, and full of people who understand what it's like to navigate the world with a different brain. Finding my people has been life-changing.

It Validates Your Experience

When you understand that your brain is literally wired differently, it validates why "normal" strategies don't work for you. It's not that you're not trying hard enough - it's that you need different approaches.

It Explains the Overlap

Many people have multiple neurodivergent conditions. Understanding the broader category helps explain why someone might have ADHD AND autism, or ADHD AND dyslexia. These aren't separate problems - they're different expressions of neurodivergence.

What This Looked Like in My Life

Before I understood neurodivergence, I was constantly trying to force my ADHD brain into neurotypical molds:

Then: I felt guilty for needing noise-canceling headphones in busy places Now: I understand sensory sensitivity is part of how my neurodivergent brain processes information

Then: I thought I was lazy for struggling with "simple" tasks like laundry Now: I know my brain needs interest and urgency to activate, so I create systems that work with my dopamine instead of against it

Then: I felt ashamed of my intense emotions and reactions Now: I recognize that emotional intensity is often part of the ADHD experience and deserves accommodation, not shame

The Bigger Picture

Understanding ADHD as neurodivergent also helps explain why so many of us struggle with things that seem "easy" for others:

Executive function challenges aren't personal failures - they're neurological differences in how our brains manage tasks and time.

Sensory sensitivities aren't being "dramatic" - they're real differences in how our nervous systems process input.

Social difficulties aren't character flaws - they're the result of trying to navigate a world designed for neurotypical social patterns.

Emotional regulation struggles aren't weaknesses - they're features of how our brains process and respond to emotions.

What About Co-occurring Conditions?

Here's something I wish I'd known earlier: it's really common for people to have multiple neurodivergent conditions. Many people have ADHD AND autism (like me), or ADHD AND dyslexia, or several conditions together.

This isn't a coincidence - these conditions often share underlying neurological patterns. Understanding this helped me stop trying to figure out which of my traits were "ADHD traits" versus "autism traits" and instead embrace that my brain is just neurodivergent in multiple ways.

Parenting and Neurodivergence

As a mom, understanding that ADHD is neurodivergent has completely changed how I approach parenting my kids. Instead of looking for "ADHD behaviors" to correct, I'm watching for signs of neurodivergence to support.

When my 3-year-old covers his ears in loud places, I don't see a behavior problem - I see potential sensory sensitivity that deserves accommodation. When he gets deeply absorbed in lining up his toys, I don't see obsessive behavior - I see possible hyperfocus that could be a strength.

This shift from pathology to difference is everything when it comes to raising kids who might share your neurotype.

The Medical vs. Social Model

Understanding ADHD as neurodivergent also introduces you to different ways of thinking about disability and difference:

Medical model: "You have a disorder that makes you function poorly in society, so we need to fix you."

Social model: "You have a different way of functioning, and society hasn't accommodated those differences, so we need to change the environment."

Both perspectives have value, but the social model - which is more common in neurodivergent communities - puts the focus on accommodation and acceptance rather than just treatment and management.

What This Means for You

If you're reading this and just learning that your ADHD makes you neurodivergent, here's what I want you to know:

You belong in neurodivergent spaces. You don't need a certain severity of symptoms or specific challenges to claim this identity.

Your experiences are valid. The struggles you've had aren't character flaws - they're the natural result of having a neurodivergent brain in a neurotypical world.

You deserve accommodations. Whether at work, school, or home, you deserve environments and systems that work with your brain, not against it.

You're not alone. The neurodivergent community is full of people who understand the exhaustion of masking, the overwhelm of sensory overload, and the joy of finding your people.

Moving Forward

Learning that my ADHD made me neurodivergent didn't change my diagnosis, but it changed everything about how I see myself and my place in the world. It connected me to a community, gave me language for my experiences, and shifted my focus from fixing myself to accommodating my needs.

Your ADHD brain isn't broken. It's neurodivergent. And that's not just okay - it's beautiful.

Are you newly discovering that your ADHD makes you neurodivergent? What questions do you have about this journey? I'd love to hear from you. 

Please be sure to check out Neurospicy and Navigating podcast airing on 6/12/2025 and please feel free to get your free swirl journal at https://www.flickerinthefield.com/neurospicy-and-navigating-subscribe

Resources for learning more:

• Neurodivergent advocacy organizations

• ADHD and neurodivergence research

• Community support groups and online spaces