Welcome to the Neurodiversity Assessments blog! Here, we aim to provide supportive and informative content about neurodiversity and specific learning difficulties. 

Are artists more likely to be dyslexic than others?

While working in art colleges, I was aware of a consensus that many artists are dyslexic. This conception was underpinned by the widely cited examples of famous dyslexic artists such as Picasso and Michelangelo. I was also aware that many of the artists that I studied with who went on to be successful were dyslexic or had some other neurodiverse profile. So I asked myself: are dyslexics drawn (excuse the pun) to art because they are naturally good at it or is it because they are just better at art than they are at academic subjects I came to the conclusion that, as with most things, it must be a bit of both! It is also worth keeping mind that some people are good at academic and artistic work and they may or may not be dyslexic. I guess  you just can't generalise...

What's all this about ADHD?

Acdemic research has typically identified that about 3-5% of the population have ADHD. There has also been a long held view that more boys than girls get diagnosed with ADHD. That could be because boys encourage each other to be disruptive whereas girls tend to police each other and try to stay under the radar.

More recently, I've noticed a huge upturn in young people and adults presenting for assessment with ADHD symptoms. I can think of three or four reasons for the increase. One, more awareness of ADHD and its different presentations (Inattentive, Hyperactive and Combined Inattentive-Hyperactive). Two, the effects of Covid 19. That is, symptoms being exacerbated by the confinements. Three, mobile phone usage. And four, ADHD and neurodiversity becoming viral on Social Media.

I don't think that people have evolved much in the last 5 years due to Covid 19 or mobile phones/social media, therefore the increase seems to be resulting from increased awareness of what was previously under-diagnosed.