FAQ

I generally say, “I have ADHD and OCD.” I can swap between saying, “I have autism” and “I am autistic.” For some people, there’s little difference between those two statements, but for others it can refer to a sense of belonging to a particular community (I am autistic). If you’re close to someone with one or more of these conditions, it can often be great to ask.

It is a large term used to refer to a host of conditions such as ASD, ADHD, OCD, Dyslexia, Tourettes, and more. The diversity in the term refers to the differences in how brains are wired and function.

There is not a blood test for these nor can imaging tests be used for a diagnosis. Instead, there is a significant battery of quantitative, standardized tests. These are then often paired with highly involved, standardized narrative forms (particularly in the case of autism). Ultimately, a trained clinician takes these results and pairs them with clinical observation to decide whether to provide a diagnosis or not.

This is a much-debated question. In terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Social Security, and education settings, yes. They are viewed as disabilities outright or in certain circumstances. Beyond this, however, is a larger question of what a term like disability means, how it’s defined, and who ultimately makes the determination.

There is small, but significant scholarship in the area of disability theology and disability studies (spanning education, sociology, and more). One of many important questions raised there is how disability is defined, understood, and integrated into relationships: families, churches, communities, and societies.

Ultimately, some with one or more of these conditions would describe themselves as disabled while others would not. It’s always great to have a conversation!

That’s hard to say because these terms and concepts—much less our understanding of the human brain and body as a whole—are effectively ‘brand new’ in the scope of human history. It’s generally believed that these differences have always been present but simply explained and understood in different ways.

Most researchers believe the primary driver is improved awareness and diagnostic practices, though this question continues to be studied.

Each of these conditions—as well as other neurodiverse conditions—have a significant genetic component. There is a different level of genetic ‘impact’ for each one. Environmental factors can play a part in some instances (such as in something like OCD) but genetics play the most significant role.

Claims that a vaccine causes autism have been widely debunked. The vaccine claim came from a single study of just 12 children by Dr. Andrew Wakefield; it was later determined that he both falsified patient data in the study and held conflicting financial interests. He ultimately was struck from the UK medical registry, and the study was later formally retracted by the academic journal.