Why It Is Important To Get Screened For Neurodivergence
- Sam Shepherd
- Aug 11
- 2 min read
By Sophia Levine
In the summer of 2021, a teenage girl going into her senior year of high school was sitting in an office for a test that lasted three hours. She could have been doing other things such as researching colleges she should apply to and book college tours, and prepare for her senior year of high school, but instead she was being tested for autism and neurodivergence.
Throughout her life, she always felt different and that she did not blend in with the crowd. She did things differently. She had a “check out” period where she was tired of interacting with other people and participating in activities that she would not do anything for the rest of the day. She liked to do the same things and never change her habits. She did not want to do new things that she was not used to. She did not like to talk to people.
The test was a couple of hours and it got exhausting for her to keep doing these tests. Why is she being asked to point to all of these things for three hours at a time. The test would be important to understand the way she acted.
That girl was me.
A few weeks later, my family received the test results that diagnosed me with high functioning autism. It was what helped me prepare for college as I was set to be attending next year and for my future as I am going into my senior year of college.
Getting tested for neurodivergence is a crucial step in understanding your brain or someone you know’s brain. The results from the test helped me realize why I do certain things such as refuse to change and adapt new habits, why I obsess over certain things, why I do the same thing on repeat, and so much more.
Screenings are helpful in seeing what you or a loved one may need in the future. If you or your loved one is neurodivergent, you can receive educational and workplace accommodations to help adapt to a new environment and have a plan tailored to help you. You can also receive help in developing coping strategies. Testing can help you plan for a better future in which you can adapt to new environments and experiences.
Getting tested can improve mental health by acknowledging triggers and stressors and help you reduce anxiety and depression instead of leaving it in the dark.
Getting tested can also improve communications and build stronger relationships. You can communicate your needs and stresses better that loved ones will have a better understanding of your needs. You can also develop a sense of community as 19% of Americans say that they are neurodivergent [1]. It helps you physically and mentally to know that there is a community across the country and around the world who are just like you who can understand you.
Sources:
