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

Which is exactly why being able to work doesn’t clarifying somebody as functioning well in the world.

This is absolute rubbish, as anyone who knows anything about autism will know. At least half the (diagnosed) autistic adults I’ve met are in work - FT as well as PT. Doesn’t mean we all “function well in the world” outside a safe, predictable routine.

To those of us who have been around a while I can assure you it is surprising. Where were all these people with autism when I was young?

Think of all the people in history who likely had autism. In fact it’s suggested that most of the great scientists may have had it. It’s a type of being human that tends to produce extremes when ability is combined with single mindedness.

As someone who has worked in accountancy with at least 2 (that I know of) diagnosed adults, you’re ill informed. A lot of autistic people are very capable of functioning in an important or difficult job. There are many ways in which autism can impact people and it’s doesn’t always mean they can’t function well.

In the nicest way, you seem quite misinformed.

You can work, be "successful" in a career and still struggle with all the things on your list.

I was agreeing with you, lol.

Hmmm… my children have cost the taxpayer £0. Not for assessments, not for medication or therapy, not for their education (yep private education, so in fact SAVED them £7k x 8 years for each child)…

There is a threshold you need to meet and having persistent deficits in reciprocal social communication and social interaction
restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour and symptoms causing clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning to the extent you are significantly impacted in life to meet diagnosis criteria would mean you don’t function “well” in life- without support and adjustments .

I know I was being sarcastic, I obviously missed the mark!!

I think being diagnosed in your fifties is surprisingly common. I have two family members diagnosed at that kind of age - both of whom had managed successful careers but who struggled massively in other areas.

I often think about a man I managed years ago who very evidently had the form of autism that used to be known as Asperger’s. He struggled so hard but had managed with difficulty to stay in paid work until he was made redundant in his 50s.

He contacted me a few years later to say he’d now been diagnosed with Autism. There must be many like him who just weren’t aware so didn’t get the help they needed.

It is everywhere now. Two of my nephews. One niece. My son’s GF is diagnosed autistic but if she’d grown up when I did I doubt she would have been screened for it or able to get the help she needs. She thinks my son is autistic too and is encouraging him to look into it.

Well what would help would be more funding for specialist school places

Current methodology of education is one of inclusivity, it has been fought for, for decades. What this has resulted in, is children's needs not being met under that guise. Its been convenient for successive governments and this then filters down to LAs, to insist that all mainstream can meet most ND/SEN needs

They cant of course and children with challenging needs are being let down and the rest of the class are also let down. The sheer amount of time and resources that schools cant cope with is not recognised.

I manage an Autism social care team- some of our care packages are £7k+ a week for one person- the amount of professionals around the individual is astronomical- we can sit in meetings of 15+ professionals weekly discussing the person's needs. Think of the cost to employ those professionals. Lots stuck in hospital as there isn't an appropriate provider to take on the care package- this is a massive cost to health. The cost of Autism is huge when not managed appropriately.

I’m surprised at the cost. And that it’s more than the cost of say, cancer.

I have 3 children and the 2 eldest have ASD. Younger one was diagnosed aged five and the eldest at 15. One is at a special school and may never live independently and the other got As and Bs in their GCSEs, is doing A levels now (all mainstream education) and can’t wait to go to university. Not everyone who is on the spectrum has high care needs but there definitely needs to be more support and research into not just why it occurs but also different education techniques.

My husband and I had a 3rd child together knowing they might also be autistic like their siblings (and if I’m honest, parents.Neither husband or I have been diagnosed but we almost definitely are too).

Yes, also, subsequent children don’t automatically have autism because their older sibling does!

Im talking about autism and aspergers.

Another thing people argue about on this forum, there are lots of people with a diagnosis of aspergers, posters often try to silence that

Thats why I used the term ND to incorporate those 2 specific conditions, not the other ND conditions.

Being autistic, according to the diagnostic criteria is down to:

• Persistent deficits in social communication/interaction and
• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior

That's the criteria for diagnosis. I can function well in the world and yet have these three things. My diagnosis helps me to understand how best to manage my social communication deficits, restricted behaviours, and sensory sensitivities - so that I can function well in the world.

Not sure catching cases of ASD would make much difference. It isn’t something which can be cured, only managed. I think there are so many people with ASD traits, who wouldn’t be classed as having ASD. It must be difficult to diagnose.

I know this. Its an area I work in within my role!

So no autistic people are functional and happy?

Is that taking parental age into account? It seems like the sort of factor that would be impacted by parental age, which is already a known risk factor.

No during her assessment, which I was part of, she talked about the traits she has. She functions very well, she has an extremely well paid job, she has a partner, she has a social life, she is organised, clean, tidy, manages herself and others. But she is ND
You seem really illinformed about the differences between people.