Neurotypical Person Guide: How to Understand Accurate Diagnosis?

Self-diagnosis and the tendency to diagnose others is prevalent in our culture. Psychiatrist and Wise & Well author John Kruse, MD writes: “Previously, social stigma and personal shame deterred many people from discussing mental health experiences. Now, people are flocking to the internet to share their stories of living with mental health issues.”

What complicates things further is that some individuals who identify as neurodivergent avoid mental health professionals or researchers who might label their neurodivergence (a term used to describe cognitive functioning that is different from the norm) with a diagnosis.

Why are labels and self-diagnoses so frequently adopted?

Labels often feel good; they provide a sense of security and make sense of what is chaotic and confusing. Labels create a sense of identity and connect us to what we value most. We are members of families, nations, and cultures, and can develop strong attachments to political parties, local sports teams, or religious doctrines.

When we identify with certain personality descriptors, we feel like part of a group and can easily explain how we differ from others. While labels offer trust, openness, and camaraderie with peers who share similar thoughts, they also create division and set us apart from others. Labeling, casual diagnoses, and even strong identification with what we value most can lead to conflict and hasty judgments; the individual's intent may be overlooked, and the label or diagnosis obscures their sense of self.

How do diagnoses help?

People often feel relieved when they discover there is a label that characterizes their experience. Psychology researchers Neil Craddock and Laurence Mynors-Wallis describe some benefits of mental health diagnoses:

“A diagnosis provides assurance that their condition is not unique, mysterious, or inexplicable, and that there is a body of knowledge and experience that can be used to provide help... A diagnosis can help an individual understand that they are different or do not function in the same way as most others, challenging feelings of shame, loneliness, and low self-esteem that might otherwise arise.”

When diagnostic labeling becomes problematic: Unfortunately, careless use of diagnostic terms in the media and routine conversations can lead to labeling others based on assumptions and unfounded conjectures. When experts misunderstand: Unfortunately, even “experts” can misinterpret...

Labels can inadvertently cast people in a negative light and cause immeasurable harm. Many people have faced situations where they were mislabelled or misdiagnosed by a doctor, mental health professional, or educator, and treated accordingly.

Psychologist, author, and ADHD expert Russell Barkley, for example, argues that the DSM criteria for ADHD are more suitable for children and do not easily apply to symptoms of ADHD in adults. In fact, most experienced therapists use discretion when diagnosing, evaluate diagnoses in light of their clinical experience, and view each person as unique. People are not their diagnoses. We all make mistakes. But ideally, conscientious doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and teachers continue to learn, educate, and question their assumptions.

How to understand an accurate diagnosis?

If you think a diagnosis has been missed, seek additional advice. Before rushing to self-diagnose or diagnose others from a distance, consider the validity, utility, and overall benefit of the label. Is it accurate? Is it based on data or assumptions? Is it necessary? Is it helpful? Does it provide clarity and further understanding, or does it create stereotypes and discord in your relationships by distancing you from others?

Personal struggles require guidance and support; however, misuse of diagnoses obscures individuality and can lead to incorrect assumptions, anxieties, and divisiveness.

Even if a diagnosis is accurate, it is important to recognize the person as a whole, including all their strengths, interests, abilities, and what makes them unique. No adult or child can be defined by a diagnosis alone.