We are all neurodiverse

Sami Timimi (see eg. previous post) blogs at Mad in the UK about neurodiversity (see post). As he says, “[T]he belief there is a neurological basis to these conditions … is prevalent". This is despite "[n]o unique, characteristic, and reliable findings in genetic, neuroanatomical, neurofunctional, or neurochemical investigations" having been discovered. As Sami goes on:-

Take neuro out of neurodiversity and we are left with the only reliable statement we can make about the human condition in general: that there is diversity. We are all unique. Ultimately, we are all neurodiverse, making the concept, and its sub-categories (like ADHD and autism), painfully useless at differentiating and classifying different types of people.

Any psychiatric diagnosis is not an absolute concept. Does the concept of 'neurodiversity' have any utility if it does not point to brain differences? I have suggested before (see previous post) replacing the term with 'biopsychosocial diversity'. I don't think the review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism set up by the government (see previous post) will find any experts prepared to say that any definite biomarkers have been found for neurodiversity. There are no more than hypotheses which have not been proven.

It would be helpful if that review could make this situation clear as people are being misled. We all need to adapt to other people's differences. There's no need to propagate a myth that the biological basis of neurodiversity has been found to substantiate the need for accommodations to people's differences.