Technology for Neurodivergence

Although it has become more widely discussed in recent years, you may or may not be familiar with the concept of neurodivergent individuals. Here is some education on the topic and a look at how you can support these folks and their various forms of sensitivity. 

What Does Neurodivergent Mean? 

Put simply, a “neurodivergent” person is “someone whose brain processes information in a way that is not typical of most individuals.” Sometimes this may mean an individual has a learning disability or an anxiety disorder, while other times it might mean they have Tourette’s or be on the Autism spectrum. There is much variance within this term. 

AV For Neurodivergent Individuals 

Some stakeholders on your build team might wonder whether they need to accommodate this part of the population. When you look at the numbers, there is a major argument in favor of doing so, with an estimated 30-40% of the population being neurodivergent. 

So, how can you keep the needs of this significant group in mind as you plan and execute your next project? Here are some ways: 

• Many neurodivergent children and adults struggle with sound in a variety of ways. Some may be highly sensitive to noise and prone to discomfort if there’s a lot of stimuli in this area, while others might be easily distracted by sound. It can be helpful to plan to keep all auditory inputs at a moderate level within your build, with some options to block it out (e.g. noise-canceling headphones or sound masking solutions) or change it (e.g. giving patients control over the music in their room). 
• Similarly, light can be uncomfortable for some individuals in this group. The more soothing you make your lighting – and the adjustability you plan for in this area – the better your visitors will feel. 
• Reading can also be a source of difficulty for certain neurodiverse people, so it can be useful to integrate other ways of sharing information into your site. For instance, you might consider using color-coded displays or the ability to have a piece of information read aloud from an interactive kiosk. 

At PIVIUM, the needs and experience of the end user are always our top priority. Give us a call to learn how we can work together to put the people in your project first!