Caring for neurodivergent patients 

In clinical settings, we’re trained to read behavior quickly. We assume patients who respond rapidly and follow conversational rhythms are engaged and understanding. These shortcuts work in fast-paced environments, but they’re not universal. When we rely on them too heavily, we miss what’s actually happening.

Neurodivergent patients often move differently through interactions. Slower processing gets labeled as confusion and quiet patients are labeled as withdrawn. Sensory overwhelm becomes difficult behavior. These quick interpretations stick, shaping everything that follows.

Many neurodivergent people—patients and providers alike—arrive in clinical settings after years of masking: consciously or unconsciously adopting neurotypical behaviors to fit in. Also called “camouflaging,” masking develops through observation and imitation, becoming automatic over time. But research shows higher masking correlates with increased stress, especially in neurotypical-oriented environments.

And healthcare settings intensify this strain. Bright lights, fast pace, and constant interruptions compound existing stress. Even those who manage well elsewhere can reach a breaking point.

My autistic son performs comedy at Columbia College Chicago—present, himself, hilarious. But in a large, brightly lit classroom with constant noise, something shifts. The environment becomes too much, making engagement harder to demonstrate in recognizable ways.

The power of slowing down

When healthcare professionals slow down they speed of interactions, they discover patients perceived as distant are actually responding at their own pace. What looked like disengagement was genuine effort. This recognition makes providing appropriate care possible.

Learn more

“The Electricity of Every Living Thing,” by Katherine May

“ADHD 2.0,” by Edward Hallowell & John Ratey