ADHD Chatter PodcastADHD Chatter Podcast

Every neurodivergent person needs to hear this 💚 #adhd #autism #neurodivergent

Alex Partridge on neurodivergent effort comes from masking and neurotypical-centered systems daily.

Alex Partridgehost
Feb 19, 20261mWatch on YouTube ↗
Masking and fatigueNeurotypical norms and social expectationsAttention and losing track of informationProcessing speed vs intelligenceSchool experiences and labelingCognitive “extra hoops” to perform tasksReframing the source of difficulty
AI-generated summary based on the episode transcript.

In this episode of ADHD Chatter Podcast, featuring Alex Partridge, Every neurodivergent person needs to hear this 💚 #adhd #autism #neurodivergent explores neurodivergent effort comes from masking and neurotypical-centered systems daily Neurodivergent people often work harder because sustained masking to appear neurotypical is exhausting.

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Neurodivergent effort comes from masking and neurotypical-centered systems daily

  1. Neurodivergent people often work harder because sustained masking to appear neurotypical is exhausting.
  2. The speaker challenges why neurodivergent people are expected to adapt, instead of neurotypical people meeting them halfway.
  3. Differences in attention and information processing can require extra mental steps to complete the same tasks as neurotypical peers.
  4. Labels like “slow processing” are framed as unrelated to intelligence and instead reflect added cognitive hoops.
  5. The true difficulty is not being neurodivergent itself but fitting into a neurotypical world’s expectations.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Masking is a major, underrecognized energy drain.

The transcript frames masking—working to look neurotypical—as a constant effort that can be more exhausting than the task at hand.

The burden of adaptation is unevenly placed on neurodivergent people.

Alex questions why neurodivergent individuals must “go the distance” to fit in, rather than neurotypical environments and people adjusting to be inclusive.

Extra cognitive steps can look like underperformance without reflecting ability.

Attention differences and how information is received can mean someone must work through additional mental hoops just to stay oriented and respond.

“Slow processing” is not a proxy for low intelligence.

The clip emphasizes that processing speed describes how long it takes to formulate an answer, not the quality of thinking or underlying intellect.

Much of the struggle is environmental, not personal deficiency.

The punchline is that the “hard work” is fitting into neurotypical systems—suggesting that changing contexts and expectations can reduce strain.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

4 quotes

Anyone with any kind of neurodiversity has to work harder.

— Alex Partridge

I've never quite understood why it is people that aren't neurotypical have to go the distance to look neurotypical.

— Alex Partridge

That does not mean they're not intelligent. It's got nothing to do with intelligence.

— Alex Partridge

The hard work... is fitting in a neurotypical world.

— Alex Partridge

QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE

5 questions

What would “neurotypical people meeting them halfway” look like in concrete day-to-day behaviors (conversation pace, directness, sensory considerations)?

Neurodivergent people often work harder because sustained masking to appear neurotypical is exhausting.

How can schools distinguish between “slow processing” and lack of understanding when assessing students in real time?

The speaker challenges why neurodivergent people are expected to adapt, instead of neurotypical people meeting them halfway.

What are examples of the “extra hoops” neurodivergent people jump through during typical tasks like meetings, lectures, or exams?

Differences in attention and information processing can require extra mental steps to complete the same tasks as neurotypical peers.

Where is the line between helpful masking for safety and harmful masking that leads to burnout, and how can someone tell they’ve crossed it?

Labels like “slow processing” are framed as unrelated to intelligence and instead reflect added cognitive hoops.

What accommodations most directly reduce the cognitive load described here (extra time, written instructions, reduced sensory input, alternative participation methods)?

The true difficulty is not being neurodivergent itself but fitting into a neurotypical world’s expectations.

Chapter Breakdown

Neurodivergent people often have to work harder in daily life

Alex frames the core point: neurodivergent people frequently expend more effort than neurotypical peers just to function in everyday settings. This extra workload is not about ability or motivation, but about navigating a world built for neurotypical norms.

Masking: the hidden, exhausting workload

The conversation highlights masking as a major source of fatigue—constantly managing behavior, expression, and communication to appear neurotypical. Alex emphasizes how draining it is and treats it as a core, often invisible labor.

Why is the burden to ‘fit in’ placed on neurodivergent people?

Alex challenges the assumption that neurodivergent individuals must do the adapting. He questions why neurotypical people aren’t expected to meet neurodivergent people halfway.

Extra “hoops” in processing information

Alex explains that information may not ‘come in’ as easily for neurodivergent brains, requiring additional steps to interpret, retain, or respond. He gives examples like differences in hearing/processing and a shorter attention span that can disrupt continuity.

School example: ‘slow processing’ doesn’t mean low intelligence

Using a school setting, Alex addresses the label of slow processing and explicitly separates processing speed from intelligence. He argues that the brain may be doing more behind-the-scenes work before producing an answer.

Cognitive load: resources spent just to get to the answer

Alex describes how the added mental steps consume valuable cognitive resources before a person can even respond. This explains why tasks can be more tiring and why performance may look uneven despite capability.

The real hard part: functioning in a neurotypical world

Alex concludes that the hardest work isn’t being neurodivergent itself, but trying to fit into systems designed around neurotypical assumptions. The chapter lands on a reframing: the environment creates much of the difficulty.

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