Neurodiversity
What is "neurodiversity"?
a framework for understanding human brain function and mental illness. It argues that diversity in human cognition is normal(not to label every divergences disabling!), and being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person
Name one misconception/myth about autism and one about adhd (2 total)
Autism: no empathy, cannot read social cues or emotions at all, caused by vaccines/bad parenting, can be 'cured', autists are anti-social, is a linear spectrum(+20!)
ADHD: only hyperactivity, not real, is always fun, just need to write things down, just poor disciplining, only boys, always enthusiastic and happy, can outgrow it
Overlaps: (+50) that they can't happen together; a sign of intelligence level; that symptoms in boys and girls are the same; girls are less likely to be autistic/have adhd; you cant have symptoms without having the condition; you can get a brain scan for diagnosis; that it isn't genetic; that it is only genetic factors; etc
What is the difference between seizures and epilepsy?
Hint1: both involve surges in neural firing patterns
Hint2: they might have differences in triggers
Seizures, or fits, can happen from head injuries, toxins, stroke, tumours, infections, etc; epilepsy is a neurological condition causing recurrent unprovoked seizures, and epileptics would require medication (but some may have drug-resistant epilepsy). Reasons are unknown, but can be genetic
(ofc, epileptic seizures can be triggered - stress, lack of sleep, light, alcohol, hormonal changes, menstruation, cold)
What is a big myth about depression and/or anxiety?
Always sad and crying, never happy, automatically means suicidal; always jumpy, is just shy, just stressed or worrying too much; exercise will make it go away, it's just in their heads; always caused by trauma
Those with depression/anxiety can laugh, be irritable, have mood swings, be extremely tired and sleepy, and it can be genetic or by other factors
Name a work (book, show, movie) featuring a character with depression/anxiety/ptsd/c-ptsd/DID/schizophrenia/etc OR one that inaccurately portrayed or romanticised mental health issues
(open)
Name 2 myths about neurodivergence
Myth: means autism; all neurodiverse people are similar; means disability; 'high-functioning' ones aren't technically neurodiverse/impaired
What is a major difference between Autism and ADHD?
(not about symptoms)
[Routine, familiarity and repetition] vs [novelty-seeking, inhibition and impulsivity difficulties]
[developmental delay] vs [neurological disorder]
[autism spectrum testing] vs [adhd screening process]
How is the screening for seizure/epilepsy different from AuDHD's?
Uses brain scans, MRI, EEG, CT scan, blood tests, etc tests to sniff out causes that may have provoked/triggered the seizure or to detect distinctive neural firing signals
How are depression and anxiety, etc conditions diagnosed?
Questionnaires; psychological evaluation and history noting; by clinical psychologists; etc
GAD, ASQ, HAM-A, BDI, MDD, PHQ scores...
Honestly, what the heck was Freud on?
But name 3 concepts he contributed to the field of psychology that isn't the Oedipus complex
Psyche, subconscious, Idinnate instincts, Egoconscious self & mediator, Superegointernalised morality, interpretation of dreams, defence mechanisms, psychopathologies/'Freudian slip', ...
Name 4 more neurodivergent conditions that isn't already a column category in this game
dyslexia, dyscalculalia, tourettes, dyspraxia, OCD, DID, BPD, schizophrenia, hypo/hypersensitivity, drastically different IQ, Down syndrome, etc
Fun? fact: There is a certain sexual/romantic attraction that autists and ADHDers are often associated with, by NTs or even themselves (even if they are not); guess what it is?
Ace/Aro (conflated with repulsion too)
There are many research findings about the ace/aro aspects with which AuDHD folks connect, but it should be taken with a grain of salt; there are counterarguments that it could be due to stereotypes especially in Hollywood portrayals, or due to measurement by the 'typical's understanding of attraction
Give 5 fears/struggles for those with epilepsy or frequent seizures
(could be disabling in everyday life or long term impacts)
fears in drinking, partying(photosensitivity), walking, driving, swimming; physical injury and death risks
difficulty with obtaining medical or travel insurance, consciousness/attention(studying, talking, socialising), memory difficulties
Altered senses - blurred/double vision, muscle control, bladder issues, etc
higher rates of mental health issues - confusion, anxiety, depression
issues in dependency and independency
Name 3 MH condition terms that aren't too commonly known or heard of, like depression/anxiety/phobia/ptsd
(💣!)
deduct 50 if informal terms like "low/high-functioning"
c-ptsd, dissociation, bipolar, mania, hypomania, prolonged grief disorder, etc
Name a work or character (book, show, movie) who had a panic or anxiety attack, or Au/DHD.
Or, for extra pts, a character (+50) or historical figure (+100) who had a seizure or epilepsy
Puss in Boots, Avatar way of water, etc; The Good Doctor; Oliver Twist, Queen Charlotte: Bridgerton Story, etc
/'Mad' King George III, Prince John of Wales, Joan of Arc, Socrates, Caesar, Napoleon, Rosemary Kennedy; (non-epileptic) Da Vinci, Alfred the Great, Alexander the Great, Lord Byron, Edgar Allan Poe, Leo Tolstoy, Lewis Carroll, Alfred Nobel, Tchaikovsky...
neurodevelopmental disorders emerge in the developmental period of life - neurocognitive disorders are acquired during the lifespan
Give 5 symptoms/signs that people with autism and adhd could have in common
Sensory issues, stimming, hyper-fixation/special interests, executive dysfunction, echolalia, catatonia, alexithymia, ND communication patterns, emotional regulation difficulties, eye-contact differences, task-switching difficulties, masking, accent-mimicry, introspection difficulties, higher risks of victimisation/MH issues, time blindness, delays in typical milestones(social cues/language skills/physical coordination)
Name 2 types of seizures that aren't grand mal seizure (a.k.a. fits)
Absence/petit mal seizures, tonic/clonic/tonic-clonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, atypical absence seizures, etc
(categories: generalised, focal, and unknown seizures)
What, properly, is the definition of trauma?
(can answer by what is not trauma, or how it affects the brain, etc)
Trauma is not always "from a life-threatening event" and "will always cause PTSD" or "is PTSD", and "will be healed by time" or "by talking about it". It is more of a response which has lasting adverse effects on one's well-being and hardship in processing the cause; and can be from a series of events
Trauma can shrink the prefrontal cortex (rational and cognitive thinking), shrink the hippocampus (differentiates past and present), and over-activate the amygdala (hypervigilance, defence, stress-response, wired for survival)
What are people in some countries now wearing to show a sign of having invisible disability?
(UK 2016; globally recognised; not popularised in Malaysia)
Sunflower symbol/lanyard/badge/pin/etc
Staff wearing them can also mean trained for hidden disability assistance
What is a big complication on using the non-medical umbrella labelling of "neurodiversity"?
It is a fairly new term and not all conditions are thought to be accepted as "neurodiverse" by everyone. Some do not include mental health issues like depression and anxiety, others do not include epilepsy, Parkinson's, etc conditions.
"high-functioning" and "low-functioning" are also informal, non-official medical diagnosis terms!
Name something that one with neurodevelopmental disorders could struggle with (socially, societally, emotionally, etc)
(💣!)
victimisation/belittled and dismissed : -(x1)
put on pedestal as 'special'/gifted child burnout - x1
annoyance/confusion with NTs (conventions, explanation) - x1.5
misdiagnosis as another thing/needing years to get it correct - x2
shame/guilt from diagnosis rather than relief - x2.5
support services tend to be for kids, not adults - x3
may be barred from travelling overseas - x3
What is SUDEP?
(warning*not a happy answer)
Short for: Sudden Unexpected Death by Epilepsy
Apart from fatal physical injuries during a grand mal seizure, an epileptic person can pass unexpectedly, and unexplainably.
Cameron Boyce was an actor who passed in his sleep from SUDEP; his parents founded the Cameron Boyce Foundation to raise awareness about epilepsy - November is Epilepsy Awareness Month (colour is lavender!)
Name the 5 components of dissociation
Derealisation, depersonalisation, amnesia (there are different types!), identity confusion, identity alteration
How should bystanders handle a grand mal seizure?
(💣!)
Don't: give food/water (-100pts), give CPR (-200pts), hold their body down (-200pts), or put things in mouth/hold their tongue! (-400pts)
Time the seizure; ease them to the floor with something soft and flat under their head; turn them to the side; clear the area from potentially injurious items/places; remove glasses or loosen tie/collar; stay with them - Only call medical help if (1) the seizure lasts over 5min, (2) not breathing/waking up after fit, (3) another seizure, (4) in water, (5) if they hit their head and bled, (6) heart disease, diabetes, pregnant