April 1, 2025
What is acquired neurodivergence?
A guide to brain changes, trauma, and the full spectrum of neurodiversity
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A guide to brain changes, trauma, and the full spectrum of neurodiversity
Most people think of neurodivergence as something you’re born with. But neurodivergence can also be acquired over time.
Through trauma, illness, injury, or mental health changes, some people develop cognitive, sensory, or emotional differences later in life. This is known as acquired neurodivergence.
Neurodivergence is often used to describe lifelong conditions like Autism, ADHD, and learning differences, but that doesn’t reflect the full picture.
Acquired neurodivergence refers to changes in how a person’s brain functions after birth, often as a result of trauma, illness, injury, or other neurological events. It might affect memory, attention, emotional regulation, processing speed, executive functioning, or sensory experiences.
For example, someone who experiences a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might develop executive functioning difficulties that resemble ADHD. A person living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might experience sensory sensitivities, emotional dysregulation, or time blindness. A chronic illness like long COVID or lupus might affect memory and focus in ways that make daily life feel different than before.
There’s no definitive list, but these conditions are commonly associated with changes in cognitive, emotional, or sensory functioning:
Physical damage to the brain caused by impact or force often leading to challenges with memory, concentration, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.
Interruptions in blood flow or disease in the brain can cause speech, motor, cognitive, and processing difficulties.
A mental health condition triggered by traumatic events, often involving hypervigilance, flashbacks, dissociation, and difficulties with memory or focus.
A condition involving unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that may interfere with daily functioning.
Seizures can impact memory, processing speed, executive function, and mood regulation.
Involve altered perception, disorganized thinking, and sensory differences that can lead to challenges with communication, memory, and attention.
Long-term alcohol misuse can lead to structural brain changes, often affecting judgment, memory, planning, and coordination.
Inflammation in the nervous system from autoimmune disorders like lupus can impair concentration, processing speed, and emotional regulation.
Many people report ongoing difficulties with memory, attention, and fatigue following COVID-19 infection.
Conditions like frontotemporal dementia can begin before age 65 and may impact behavior, judgment, and communication skills.
These conditions may affect executive functioning, sensory processing, language use, memory, or emotional regulation – often in ways that overlap with congenital neurodivergent experiences like ADHD and Autism.
Yes. Neurodivergence doesn’t have to be present from birth. It can also emerge over time. That includes:
Whether it lasts for months or years, if your brain works differently than it did before, and that difference impacts your everyday functioning, it’s valid to describe it as neurodivergent.
This also includes people who experience both acquired and congenital forms. For instance, someone with Autism might develop PTSD, or someone with ADHD might experience long COVID brain fog. Neurodivergent traits can overlap, interact, or shift over time.
If you’re experiencing cognitive or sensory changes after trauma, illness, or injury, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some things to try:
The best way to support someone is to ask them what they need. No two people experience acquired neurodivergence in the same way. That said, some commonly helpful practices include:
If you’re not sure? Just ask. Try: “What would help you feel more supported today?” or “Would you like me to do anything differently?”
Support doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be thoughtful.
Neurodivergence isn’t always something you’re born with. Sometimes, it develops through what life throws at you.
If your brain has changed, if your focus, memory, or emotional regulation feels different than it used to – that’s real. And support is not just for those with early diagnoses. It’s for everyone navigating a world that wasn’t built with their brain in mind.
Acquired neurodivergence is part of the neurodiversity spectrum. It deserves to be understood, supported and included.
Share this with a friend navigating life after brain injury, illness, or trauma. It might give them the words they didn’t know they needed.
A guide to brain changes, trauma, and the full spectrum of neurodiversity
Most people think of neurodivergence as something you’re born with. But neurodivergence can also be acquired over time.
Through trauma, illness, injury, or mental health changes, some people develop cognitive, sensory, or emotional differences later in life. This is known as acquired neurodivergence.
Neurodivergence is often used to describe lifelong conditions like Autism, ADHD, and learning differences, but that doesn’t reflect the full picture.
Acquired neurodivergence refers to changes in how a person’s brain functions after birth, often as a result of trauma, illness, injury, or other neurological events. It might affect memory, attention, emotional regulation, processing speed, executive functioning, or sensory experiences.
For example, someone who experiences a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might develop executive functioning difficulties that resemble ADHD. A person living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might experience sensory sensitivities, emotional dysregulation, or time blindness. A chronic illness like long COVID or lupus might affect memory and focus in ways that make daily life feel different than before.
There’s no definitive list, but these conditions are commonly associated with changes in cognitive, emotional, or sensory functioning:
Physical damage to the brain caused by impact or force often leading to challenges with memory, concentration, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.
Interruptions in blood flow or disease in the brain can cause speech, motor, cognitive, and processing difficulties.
A mental health condition triggered by traumatic events, often involving hypervigilance, flashbacks, dissociation, and difficulties with memory or focus.
A condition involving unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that may interfere with daily functioning.
Seizures can impact memory, processing speed, executive function, and mood regulation.
Involve altered perception, disorganized thinking, and sensory differences that can lead to challenges with communication, memory, and attention.
Long-term alcohol misuse can lead to structural brain changes, often affecting judgment, memory, planning, and coordination.
Inflammation in the nervous system from autoimmune disorders like lupus can impair concentration, processing speed, and emotional regulation.
Many people report ongoing difficulties with memory, attention, and fatigue following COVID-19 infection.
Conditions like frontotemporal dementia can begin before age 65 and may impact behavior, judgment, and communication skills.
These conditions may affect executive functioning, sensory processing, language use, memory, or emotional regulation – often in ways that overlap with congenital neurodivergent experiences like ADHD and Autism.
Yes. Neurodivergence doesn’t have to be present from birth. It can also emerge over time. That includes:
Whether it lasts for months or years, if your brain works differently than it did before, and that difference impacts your everyday functioning, it’s valid to describe it as neurodivergent.
This also includes people who experience both acquired and congenital forms. For instance, someone with Autism might develop PTSD, or someone with ADHD might experience long COVID brain fog. Neurodivergent traits can overlap, interact, or shift over time.
If you’re experiencing cognitive or sensory changes after trauma, illness, or injury, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some things to try:
The best way to support someone is to ask them what they need. No two people experience acquired neurodivergence in the same way. That said, some commonly helpful practices include:
If you’re not sure? Just ask. Try: “What would help you feel more supported today?” or “Would you like me to do anything differently?”
Support doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be thoughtful.
Neurodivergence isn’t always something you’re born with. Sometimes, it develops through what life throws at you.
If your brain has changed, if your focus, memory, or emotional regulation feels different than it used to – that’s real. And support is not just for those with early diagnoses. It’s for everyone navigating a world that wasn’t built with their brain in mind.
Acquired neurodivergence is part of the neurodiversity spectrum. It deserves to be understood, supported and included.
Share this with a friend navigating life after brain injury, illness, or trauma. It might give them the words they didn’t know they needed.
A guide to brain changes, trauma, and the full spectrum of neurodiversity
Most people think of neurodivergence as something you’re born with. But neurodivergence can also be acquired over time.
Through trauma, illness, injury, or mental health changes, some people develop cognitive, sensory, or emotional differences later in life. This is known as acquired neurodivergence.
Neurodivergence is often used to describe lifelong conditions like Autism, ADHD, and learning differences, but that doesn’t reflect the full picture.
Acquired neurodivergence refers to changes in how a person’s brain functions after birth, often as a result of trauma, illness, injury, or other neurological events. It might affect memory, attention, emotional regulation, processing speed, executive functioning, or sensory experiences.
For example, someone who experiences a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might develop executive functioning difficulties that resemble ADHD. A person living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might experience sensory sensitivities, emotional dysregulation, or time blindness. A chronic illness like long COVID or lupus might affect memory and focus in ways that make daily life feel different than before.
There’s no definitive list, but these conditions are commonly associated with changes in cognitive, emotional, or sensory functioning:
Physical damage to the brain caused by impact or force often leading to challenges with memory, concentration, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.
Interruptions in blood flow or disease in the brain can cause speech, motor, cognitive, and processing difficulties.
A mental health condition triggered by traumatic events, often involving hypervigilance, flashbacks, dissociation, and difficulties with memory or focus.
A condition involving unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that may interfere with daily functioning.
Seizures can impact memory, processing speed, executive function, and mood regulation.
Involve altered perception, disorganized thinking, and sensory differences that can lead to challenges with communication, memory, and attention.
Long-term alcohol misuse can lead to structural brain changes, often affecting judgment, memory, planning, and coordination.
Inflammation in the nervous system from autoimmune disorders like lupus can impair concentration, processing speed, and emotional regulation.
Many people report ongoing difficulties with memory, attention, and fatigue following COVID-19 infection.
Conditions like frontotemporal dementia can begin before age 65 and may impact behavior, judgment, and communication skills.
These conditions may affect executive functioning, sensory processing, language use, memory, or emotional regulation – often in ways that overlap with congenital neurodivergent experiences like ADHD and Autism.
Yes. Neurodivergence doesn’t have to be present from birth. It can also emerge over time. That includes:
Whether it lasts for months or years, if your brain works differently than it did before, and that difference impacts your everyday functioning, it’s valid to describe it as neurodivergent.
This also includes people who experience both acquired and congenital forms. For instance, someone with Autism might develop PTSD, or someone with ADHD might experience long COVID brain fog. Neurodivergent traits can overlap, interact, or shift over time.
If you’re experiencing cognitive or sensory changes after trauma, illness, or injury, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some things to try:
The best way to support someone is to ask them what they need. No two people experience acquired neurodivergence in the same way. That said, some commonly helpful practices include:
If you’re not sure? Just ask. Try: “What would help you feel more supported today?” or “Would you like me to do anything differently?”
Support doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be thoughtful.
Neurodivergence isn’t always something you’re born with. Sometimes, it develops through what life throws at you.
If your brain has changed, if your focus, memory, or emotional regulation feels different than it used to – that’s real. And support is not just for those with early diagnoses. It’s for everyone navigating a world that wasn’t built with their brain in mind.
Acquired neurodivergence is part of the neurodiversity spectrum. It deserves to be understood, supported and included.
Share this with a friend navigating life after brain injury, illness, or trauma. It might give them the words they didn’t know they needed.
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