Partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, increased awareness through social media, and a democratization of diagnoses, more adults are being diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions, such as autism and ADHD. In this episode of the Body Talk podcast, host Alina Jenkins and guest John Boileau discuss how diagnoses affect people later in life, how companies can attract and retain neurodiverse talent, and why it’s in their best interests to do so.
In recent years, more adults have been diagnosed with ADHD, autism and other neurodivergent conditions.
Many smart, practical people struggle to manage to-do lists or organize their schedules, and some are finding their struggles can’t just be chalked up to their lack of organizational skills. With the help of social media influencers, who are raising awareness about the lived experiences of being neurodivergent, and the lockdown, which shook up the rhythms of daily life, more people are being diagnosed with a neurodivergent condition in their adult years.
For many neurodivergent people, a diagnosis in adulthood can be an emotional rollercoaster. They may feel euphoric, pleased to finally have a diagnosis that explains their symptoms and validates their experience to the people around them. They may find themselves feeling excited, scared and upset, before finally coming to realize the diagnosis doesn’t change much – they’re already familiar with their symptoms, and they’re still the same person they were...
Alina Jenkins is a radio broadcaster, BBC presenter and co-host of the Body Talk podcast. Guest John Boileau is a consultant for organizations that want to improve inclusion, particularly as it affects the neurodiverse. He also works with the British National Health Service (NHS) Transformation Unit.
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