Episode

What the rise of fidget toys means for neurodivergence

Podcast: Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson
Published: Jul 16, 2026
Duration seconds: 1062
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Canonical source: https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/adhd-fidget-toy
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Summary

Fidget toys, like NeeDohs, are sold out and banned in classrooms. Journalist Anna North joins us to unpack how fidget toys went from gag gifts to a generational obsession, and what that shift reveals about neurodivergence, attention, and play. Plus, fidget toys are not just for kids. We look at how they are destigmatizing fidgeting for neurodivergent adults. And we dig into the science behind fidgeting, the history of the fidget spinner, and whether this wave of acceptance for sensory needs will survive.