Think you might be neurodiverse? We’re here to help with some of the next steps. 

Recently, ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergent’ have become more familiar terms, which is excellent! You may have seen people sharing their stories about living with neurodiverse conditions on social media. We’re talking about those TikTok videos of users describing their sharing ‘storytimes’ of their ADHD diagnosis or sharing how they mask their ASD in public. This sort of content may have made you question or given you the language and confidence to research. 

While the increased recognition of neurodiversity is welcomed, it’s important for you to access a range of reliable information before you make a decision as to whether you would like to seek a formal diagnosis or not. 

If you think you might be neurodiverse, take these steps:

• • Do some research.
    Before seeing a medical professional, it can be handy to learn more about neurodivergent conditions from trusted sources. Some helpful places to start include the following:
    • Autism Spectrum & Autism Awareness Australia 
    • ADHD Australia 
    • Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia
    • Australian Dyslexia Association & Dyslexia SPELD Foundation
    • Dyspraxia Resource

• Make notes of signs and symptoms, this can include: 

• • • reflecting in your journal about your childhood experiences or family history
    • Taking notes about your daily symptoms and experiences 
    • Discussing your reflections with the people around you – such as your friends and family

• Explore a formal diagnosis: visit your doctor.
  
  Your doctor will likely ask you why you think you have a neurodivergent condition, what your symptoms are and how long you’ve had these symptoms. If they feel you may be neurodivergent, they will give you a referral to a psychiatrist.
  

What you need to know about getting a formal diagnosis

• There might be a long wait: You should be prepared for the fact that you may be waiting a long time. Typical wait times for ADHD assessments in Australia can be 6 months or more.
  
  Hot tip: Ask the medical receptionist if you can go on the cancellation list. This may speed up the process of getting a diagnosis significantly. 
• Be prepared for the gap fees: Depending on what condition you’re seeking a diagnosis for you may be up for some hefty gap fees. ADHD diagnosis, in particular, is expensive, with people paying anywhere from $500 on the low end all the way up to $1000 or more. You are entitled to medicate rebates for ADHD diagnosis but you will still be up for a significant cost.
  

Learn more:

• Depending on your possible condition, it can take one or a team of clinicians. 
• Autism Awareness Australia has a handy guide to getting a diagnosis for children and adults.
• To learn more about ADHD diagnosis visit this page.
• Read more about a Dyslexia diagnosis here.

Medication for neurodiverse conditions 

Once you have a formal diagnosis, the next step may be discussing with your medical team what medications could suit you. There are some medications to help with the behavioural and cognitive symptoms of neurodiverse conditions, such as ADHD and ASD. For some conditions, however, there aren’t medications you can take.

Medication isn’t everything though. Many people choose not to take medication. There are many therapies and strategies that can help you. The journey is different for everyone!  

Neurodiversity sits on a spectrum of needs. Medication, support, and educational needs are going to be different for each individual. Talking to a doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist is important when understanding what strategies are going to work best for you. 

Medications for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): 

There is no medication to treat autism itself there are some that can help with symptoms or conditions that can co-occur with autism. 

There are many different types of medication for symptoms associated with ASD. A common type of medication prescribed for these symptoms are SSRIs. They are a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and are commonly used to treat depression. They work by changing your levels of serotonin — a neurotransmitter in the brain believed to be responsible for stabilising your mood.

SSRIs might help reduce the intensity and frequency of these autism-related behaviours:

• repetitive actions
• anxiety
• irritability
• tantrums
• aggressive actions

You can watch this video to learn more about how SSRIs and serotonin work in your brain. 

Once you have started on your diagnosis journey you can talk to a doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist about whether medication is right for you and what medication would benefit you!

Medications for ADHD

There are two types of medications that are used to treat ADHD: stimulant and non-stimulant. Stimulant medications are the most common, however, depending on your genetic makeup or other conditions, non-stimulant medications might be more effective. 

Discovering what the “best” ADHD medication is for you can be a lengthy process with lots of trial and error. Considering dosage, strength, timing, and managing possible side effects means it might take a while to figure out the right combination for you. 

You can learn more about how medication for ADHD works in this video. 

Medication and stigma 

A real and difficult part of living with neurodiversity and taking medication is dealing with the internalised and societal stigma that surrounds it. There can be a lot in the media and from those in your life that might discredit medication as a treatment method. However, it is important to listen to medical professionals and what is right for you when making decisions about treatment.  

This can be a hard process so reaching out to those around you like friends, family, school support teams, and medical professionals is important. 

Learn more about overcoming stigma in this video. 

Self-diagnosis is valid

There is a lot of information about neurodiversity that is circled around on social media. This might lead you to make some connections between yourself and the symptoms of different neurodiverse conditions. This is totally normal and a valid way to begin your diagnosis and treatment journey! 

A lot of people once they finish childhood begin to realise things about themselves that parents or educators may have missed. This is especially true for young women and marginalised people as diagnostic criteria that are used to recognise neurodiversity have been typically based on its presentation in young boys. 

Self-diagnosis is a valid way to recognise what you understand about yourself. It can be the start of a journey to being formally diagnosed or can be something you hold as a personal truth without the need to access the additional support services, such as medication, that become available when you are diagnosed within the system. 

Where can I get help? 

This journey of reflection and diagnosis can be a big one, with many ups and downs. Make sure you are taking care of yourself and reaching out to those around you for support through this time. 

• Gateways support services have a great list of autism and neurodiversity resources
• I CAN provides mentoring programs and community networks for young people with autism 
• The ADHD Foundation provides diagnostic support and services for people with ADHD 
• Kids Helpline provides round-the-clock assistance for young people who are struggling
• headspace  provides support for young people struggling with mental health