.png){kind=icon}
Focusing on ADHD and autism, two of the most popular forms, this chapter examines the concept of neurodevelopmental disorders; a group of disorders resulting from neurological dysfunctions.
Through a critical lens, the chapter uncovers and discusses the debates around the emergence, cause and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, noting the ongoing difficulties associated with finding a single and effective non-drug treatment. Attention is also given to recent controversies around the definition of ADHD and autism as mental disorders in need of treatment. For some, particularly the neurodiversity movement, the symptoms associated with these disorders are alternative, yet normal, expressions of human function that do not require medical treatment. Rather than resort to drugs, they call for an adaptation to the environment that allows persons with such characteristics to function without limits.
As with the others, this chapter raises important questions regarding what counts as a mental disorder and the best ways to respond to it. When it comes to neurodevelopmental disorders, answers to such questions are particularly important as such disorders are often diagnosed during childhood and typically span over the life course.