The over diagnosis of ADHD and autism is ruining children’s lives.

I wasn’t diagnosed as a child but by about 14 I had worked it out, when my MH was falling apart I had to go through the WORK of getting myself diagnosed and a few years later I’m still trying to get meds. I had to do that while supporting my toddler who was STRUGGLING.

DC1 started falling apart at 2.5/3 and was diagnosed at 4.5. How much more do you think we should have waited and pushed when at 3.5 she was becoming housebound. Her Autism diagnosis helps describe her and her needs but not to the point where that’s all she is, she’s not at al what most people think of when you say “Autistic kid”, you might not even notice she’s is. It helps get her needs met and slack cut.

DC2 is more obvious but also more ignorable, you could wave his speech delay off as he’s likely to completely out grow it. Should we drop pursuing a diagnosis, even though he scored more highly than his big sister at screening? Should we wait for the wheels to fall off for him too? Would probably be muuuuch later for him as we have already adapted to a ND friendly life,have when the hormones hit and he can’t regulate himself anymore (happened with my brother and a friend when ended up on a residential school) or maybe when he’s an adult and he has a lot more pressure?

I can only speak as a past researcher in the field of developmental psychiatry but my opinion is that the increase in diagnosis is at least partly due to:

• increase in awareness
• reduction in stigma
• increase in access to diagnosis
• increase in environmental factors that exert causal influences such as pollutants, microplastics, dietary additives etc
• genetic contributions magnified by assortative mating
• excessive screen use in childhood

My understanding is that depression is common amongst those within the ASD community due to the physiological and psychological changes that occur as part & parcel of the condition. Social exclusion and pressures mentioned by a previous poster are also unpleasant experiences that contribute.

”Disorder” is an unfortunate word. I hope ASD level 1 is reconceptualised in the future as a difference in thinking style rather than a disorder, if it serves the needs of the individual.

I respect your differing opinion, but maybe some of this info is useful to you.

I don’t think ‘diagnosis’ is the issue, as it’s a path to extra support.

However, I do think the spectrum for autism has got too broad. And children are given this diagnosis as it’s the current best fit to their symptoms/diversities and there isn’t necessarily another diagnosis to go to in order to acknowledge their needs.

In my opinion we need to reassess and adjust to have different types/levels of diagnosis so children can get the right support to stop this happening (if it is indeed happening). Not easy, as it’s so unique and complex.

Putting a non-verbal child who needs 24/7 support in the same ‘bucket’, as a child that’s coped (although with struggles) in mainstream school until their early teens, is not helpful to anyone. It’s also hugely frustrating to parents when they are trying to access support and people don’t get it because they associate autism with the latter child. And vice-versa.

Ridiculous. I got mine at 36, and my MH was atrocious prior to that. The anxiety and depression would be there with or without the diagnosis, and at least we have a more comprehensive understanding of ourselves and what's going on with the addition of a dx.

38 years old when diagnosed. For years I've suffered with anxiety and depression. If I'd had the very much needed support to live in a system that doesn't work for me, then my mental health wouldn't have struggled so much.

Right 🙄 What is"ruining" lives is the utter lack of resources available to support children with these particular diagnoses, not the diagnoses themselves.

Again, a diagnosis of ADHD or ASD is really difficult to access, especially through the NHS, and they're certainly not handed out like candies.

The autism and adhd, depression and anxiety are still there without the diagnosis, it's there because the world is made for neurotypicals and not designed to suit any kind of deviation from this, even for physically disabled people it is still a hostile environment.

The under diagnosis ruined a hell of a lot of lives. I know that much.

What's your thoughts op?

You are very unreasonable to link to such a poorly written article that is littered with sweeping generalisations.