To think if ASD is costing the UK 32bn per year we need to better early screening?

Lots being diagnosed now is because of the raised awareness and education on how it presents in different sex’s and adults. Autistic people can be highly productive with the right jobs and support. I was diagnosed in adulthood, never had or would have had a 1-1 and am in a job with a £70k salary.

I’d like to see some more funds being directed towards finding the cause of it.

I didn’t wish my child to have it, it put severe restrictions on family life and opportunities.

I love my child to bits but if I could I would take it away from him in a heartbeat.

Very few students with ASD have 1:1 support in mainstream, most have no support beyond a couple of hours intervention and a safe space to go when they are overwhelmed. The support provided (and needed) is highly variable. Neither of my sons with ASD needs any bespoke support to access education, but they do need exam concessions (extra time) and pastoral support when social interactions with peers gets tricky.

I think it is surprising tbh. My eldest was diagnosed about 13 years ago when he was 6. I didn't know a single family with an autistic child at that point. It is so prevalent now, and I don't doubt the validity of any of those diagnoses.

Of course it's skyrocketed. Parents with autism who have children, are more likely to have kids who also have autism. How is this surprising?

I am genuinely shocked at how in just a few short years, the amount of people diagnosed with autism has absolutely skyrocketed. I can believe it costs that much, as even the 1-1 support at schools must be astronomical, and that's just for those being supported in mainstream schools.

It "costs" that much because that study includes lost parental productivity and lost opportunity costs. Obviously, those are very real for families with autistic children, but considering that strokes, heart disease, and cancer usually affect older people, for a relatively short amount of time, you're not comparing like with like.

You can't reliably screen for autism before 18 months. Lots of parents have made decisions to have other children before then. Many parents who suspect or know their child is autistic have another child regardless (I did).

I absolutely agree that there needs to be better support and faster diagnosis. But framing all that in economic terms has a gross whiff of eugenics about it.

I'd take those figures with a pinch of salt. I work with Autistic people and the majority that need care and support have other conditions that are the leading factor in them needing support, some physical disabilities many epilepsy and learning disabilities and a lot of mental health conditions.
What needs to happen to reduce support is better understanding and acceptance of disabilities and accommodations being made in school and work. I think a lot of those with mental health conditions alongside ASD have experienced autistic burnout from trying to fit in to a system that doesn't meet their needs and judges their autistic traits. You just need to browse a few threads on here to see the lack of understanding and how people are labeled rude, lazy, strange for displaying autistic traits.

Seems to be from this ten year old report
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-27742716

How is ASD costing that much? What does that breakdown as?

I don't think there is much in the way of services or support for people with a diagnosis anyway tbh.

how exactly is it costing that much? Once you get a diagnosis they abandon you.