Neurodiversity in Anesthesia: Understanding and Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues, Students, and Patients-Neurodiversity in Anesthesia: Understanding and Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues, Students, and Patients

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar “Neurodiversity and Anesthesia” aims to build shared language and practical awareness for supporting neurodivergent patients, colleagues, and students in nurse anesthesia. Presenters Dr. Crystal Campbell, Janet Perez (CRNA), and disability activist Rebecca Cartwright—each neurodivergent—contrast the traditional medical model (difference as disorder/deficit to be fixed) with the neurodiversity model (brain differences as natural human variation). They clarify terminology: “neurodiversity” includes everyone; “neurodivergent” describes less-common neurotypes; and “neurodiverse” refers to mixed groups, not individuals. Neurodivergence can be developmental, acquired, or mental-health related, often producing “spiky” cognitive profiles and diverse sensory, communication, and executive-function patterns. Social norms shaped by ableism can mislabel neurodivergent behaviors as noncompliance or incompetence.<br /><br />A discussion on whether neurodivergence is a “superpower” highlights mixed lived experiences: strengths like pattern recognition and deep focus may coexist with significant challenges, so the label can feel empowering to some and minimizing to others.<br /><br />Clinical sections emphasize anesthesia-specific implications. Neurodivergent patients may be overwhelmed by bright lights, noise, unpredictability, and rapid questioning; emergence may feel like panic rather than pain. Practical supports include calm stepwise explanations, allowing comfort items, reducing sensory load, and planning induction/emergence thoughtfully. For colleagues and trainees, presenters recommend pausing nonessential conversation during high-focus moments, avoiding interruptions, valuing different communication styles, giving processing time, offering breaks, adapting teaching, and focusing on learning patterns rather than assumptions. The webinar closes by urging a neurodiversity-informed mindset: believe lived experience, question assumptions, avoid stigmatizing language, and make inclusion the default.

Keywords

neurodiversity

neurodivergent

nurse anesthesia

anesthesia care

medical model vs neurodiversity model

ableism in healthcare

sensory sensitivities

executive function differences

communication styles

perioperative accommodations

induction and emergence planning

inclusive clinical education