Neurodiversity refers to accepting that everyone’s brain functions in different ways; while most brains process information in a ‘neurotypical’ way, some brains are ‘neurodivergent’. Over recent decades, the number of people diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions has increased and continues to grow. This is due to improved diagnosis, greater awareness of neurodivergent conditions, and more clinicians who can make the diagnosis. Some conditions have a strong genetic link; this means that parents can pass down genes for these conditions to their children.

People often wonder about what causes neurodiversity. While neurodivergence can be hereditary, it can also be caused by or correlated with environmental factors. One area of research that is currently developing is that of understanding links between ‘brain-altering experiences’ and a child’s development of a neurodivergent condition. Brain-altering experiences may include trauma at birth, epilepsy, infectious diseases and immune disorders, and these can all contribute to neurodivergence. This article will focus on birth trauma.

Traumatic birth

The term ‘birth trauma’ encompasses both physical and emotional distress experienced during or after childbirth. For some people with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Cerebral palsy, their condition has been linked to their experience of birth trauma. Some of the factors and components of birth trauma are explored below.

Decreased oxygen supply: Studies show that reduced oxygen supply and blood flow in utero, and during birth, is associated with an increased risk for ADHD in later life. Birth asphyxia is associated with a 26% greater risk of developing ADHD, while neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is associated with a 47% greater risk for ADHD, according to a 2012 study of more than 13,500 children with ADHD (Getahun et al., 2013).

Brain damage: Cerebral palsy (CP), caused by brain damage or malformation of the brain during growth in utero, can be considered a result of a traumatic birth. CP sometimes occurs as a result of head trauma during delivery, where there may be decreased oxygen supply as mentioned above, or medical error during birth; essentially, a difficult birth can lead to CP.

C-section delivery: Findings suggest that caesarean delivery births are associated with an increased risk of the baby having ASD or ADHD, according to a 2019 review of 61 studies comprising more than 20 million deliveries (Zhang et al., 2019). The link between the two, including whether C-section delivery plays a causal role in the development of ADHD, remains unknown.

So what does this mean?

This article has highlighted that there may be correlational or causal connections between birth trauma and the development of some neurodivergent conditions. Understanding connections between traumatic birth and the development of neurodivergence is important for many reasons. A greater awareness of the potential link between birth trauma and neurodivergence could lead to earlier diagnosis and support for children and young people.