Neurodevelopment is the growth that takes place in the brain. While the most important stages happen during infancy and childhood, neurodevelopment is a lifelong process. Every person’s neurodevelopment happens differently. However, there are a variety of things that can happen during neurodevelopment that result in characteristics that are different from the norm. This group of conditions is referred to as neurodevelopmental disorders. This category includes intellectual disabilities, communication disorders, attention disorders, certain motor disorders, specific learning disorders, and autism.

Autism spectrum disorder, often abbreviated as ASD or just autism, is characterized by differences in social communication, in addition to repetitive behaviors and/or heightened interests in specific topics. There’s a saying in the autism community that “if you’ve met a person with autism, you’ve met a person with autism.” This speaks to the fact that autism manifests differently in each individual. Some autistic people have complex vocabularies and language skills while others do not speak. Some people with autism rely on rigid schedules and others do not. Autistic people engage in a wide range of behaviors to self-regulate, have varying degrees of social skills, and include autism as part of their identity in different ways.

Other neurodevelopmental disorders that can be identified in early childhood include Down syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. Neurological injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, spinal cord injury, cancer, or stroke can also impact neurodevelopment.