Is it ASD that frequently?

[EverybodyWakeUp]

And if so, why is this the case? It seems that in modern society we're heading towards so many diagnosis of ASD, that we might have to change our thinking and perhaps being neurotypical is not necessarily the norm?

Are there other things that explain traits/symptoms more accurately, like the way our society is, our education system, life pressures, etc?

I hope I am not offending, truly not my intention. I really want to understand more. I am a true supporter of diversity but I feel puzzled that some forms of ASD, say what used to be Aspergers, can be classed as a disability.

If my post offends it truly is because I haven't explained myself properly and I apologise in advance. Any good articles/websites/books on this would be welcome.

I don’t think ASD is linked to the Y chromosome….

@mutationseagull
I am in favour of autistic solidarity and I strongly oppose efforts to segregate the autistic community.
All autistics are individuals, of course. Our support needs can change dramatically from day to day and should be assessed on an individual basis, rather than being lumped into arbitrary categories that do a disservice to all of us.
Furthermore, disability is not a dirty word. It is not inherently negative or inferior to be disabled. Under the social model, it basically just means that the world is not fully accessible to us.
👏👏👏👏 love the video too.

Correct. The same would likely apply to women with ASD too

It was a theory around at the time of the MMR farrago that sought to explain the increase in cases above and beyond improved diagnosis. And before the true rates in women were known.

I’m just struggling with the idea that autistic people were somehow historically barred from having children? Is there any evidence for this?

I'd also like to add my applause and support at this post (and the video)

@Onnabugeisha your posts are also excellent and really resonate with me. The way you describe things is far better than I've ever been able to. (I'm a sngle disabled and autistic parent with a 10 yr old autistic daughter)

Yes there is evidence that in the past autistic men were less likely to marry and or have children.

I have been training and learning about ASD and the spectrum for the past 7 years and things and research changes daily!

There is valid research which stated that people who would have otherwise Ben known to have Asperger's before the change are high functioning and are 80% likely to be Hyperlexic.

It's people like you who are rude about people trying to learn than puts up barriers and makes life difficult for those on the spectrum. I won't be returning to see your reply, so I wouldn't waste your time posting one.

But given that so many mask successfully, would not that evidence be skewed to only look at the more visible/obvious presentations of autism?

And does it matter how many men, when vast majority of women in the past did have children? Also it was believed women could not be autistic until only forty years ago…so how can we retroactively apply todays lens to past women?

@PMAmostofthetime

There is valid research which stated that people who would have otherwise Ben known to have Asperger's before the change are high functioning and are 80% likely to be Hyperlexic

Again, high functioning means no intellectual disability - i.e. and IQ of over 70.

High functioning does not mean the person does not struggle in other ways. You will see several references to these struggles on this thread alone.

You stated in your first post that people formerly diagnosed with Asperger’s were now “classified as high functioning”. This is simply wrong.

So I really don’t care if you think I’m being rude as you have been offensive in trying to spread misinformation about autism. (and I know you’ve read this, despite your mini-flounce)

As far as I understand, it wasn't a researched evidence based theory but was based on examining changing whole population factors like eg more people marrying than in previous decades and theorising what socio-economic might be at play and were these things related to an increase in autism?

I don't think I'm explaining this very well

👏👏👏

It’s fine, it’s really interesting to discuss. So a sort of epidemiological study? That gives me a clue to do some searches.

I think there is an element of self selection in this.

Its genetic. And certain occupations lend themselves to being more suitable for the neuro diverse than others.

What has happened locally is that house prices have gone through the roof so the professions of the people living here has also narrowed.

I think a very high percentage of my social network is neuro diverse in one way or another as a result. So I'm more likely to know others have a new diagnosis or already be diagnosed than perhaps is representative of the population as a whole.

This really fits with the idea that ND people usually end up finding their tribe.

ND attracts ND.

So often you find that ND people know a lot of ND people and NT people don't.

And I've seen it said that if you're NT and you have lots of ND friends then I have news for you 😆 (lighthearted)

Some really good information has been posted here. I'm pleased to see as often these threads go badly.

I'm all for people asking the question. It's been asked a few times on MN so far recently. (With a couple that ended up deleted)

The thing I'd like to say is this. A diagnosis of Autism is a Clinical Diagnosis. We have come on leaps and bounds in the last few decades regarding modern medicine within all fields.

Cancer is being diagnosed earlier and therefore treatment is usually more successful. Treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure is really good these days. Among many other quite 'common' health conditions.

However, I can't ever envisage a thread entitled "Is it really always cancer / diabetes / arthritis / asthma?" Frankly, the cancer question would just be downright offensive. But even the other ones would be odd to question. Hence nobody does.

Essentially, a lot of NT people don't believe that 'so many' can be ND. Even though they have no place to disbelieve us, and wouldn't question other issues as I've detailed above.

Just something I've been pondering.

That's very true with respect to most physical illnesses [epilepsy may be an exception] however i think there's the same or similiar disbelief/questioning around mental health conditions particularly anxiety post pandemic

So many poor and abusive behaviours are put down to autism and others come along and read and say “everything resonates” and that they now strongly suspect their partner is autistic.

I think I know the thread you mean. It linked to a website with so many negative and inaccurate stereotypes of autistic partners that it was truly offensive.

Autism isn't a mental health condition. Yes some people with Autism will have a mental health condition and some of us were misdiagnosed with a mental health condition before being diagnosed with Autism.

If you did pose the cancer question it would be replied with better diagnosis and changes in life expectancy meaning that more people live later in life to develop cancer later. Also more people being better treated and living longer with cancer.
Life changing will change the numbers that we know of.

DS is one of those children who would have slipped through in the past. He's intelligent and competent enough to mask and would probably have coped (miserably) in a Grammar School. School would probably have been less of a sensory assault, but in the absence of dyslexia and dyspraxia diagnoses, he'd probably have struggled with punishment for poor handwriting. Plenty of people still struggle to see it despite his diagnosis, but having been a teacher and access to social media and just being interested meant that I joined up enough dots to take my concerns to the professionals who after investigation, diagnosed him.

A cousin has a diagnosis and I suspect that a significant number of male relatives are autistic. It wasn't on the radar in their generations and they've either had nice quiet lives on the family farm or found nice technical jobs where they can play to their strengths.

I do think like attracts like. I know a large number of ND people in different ways. I've always found the "quirky", individual, outlier personalities interesting. It is easier to meet like-minded people in a larger pool, and to be more individual and pass on genes.

I wonder what percentage of "witches" were ND women...

Autism isn't a mental health condition.

I think in part this is due to the fact that some people cannot comprehend that whilst they may have suffered mild anxiety and just been able to "get on with things", this is not the case for people who have anxiety at a clinical level.

So many people out there just cannot grasp the fact that other peoples brains work differently to theirs. They cling onto the concept of "if I can do it, so can you".

I really try to avoid these people.

Autism isn't a mental health condition. Yes some people with Autism will have a mental health condition and some of us were misdiagnosed with a mental health condition before being diagnosed with Autism.

I don't think the PP was suggesting it was?

However, I can't ever envisage a thread entitled "Is it really always cancer / diabetes / arthritis / asthma?" Frankly, the cancer question would just be downright offensive. But even the other ones would be odd to question. Hence nobody does.

I don’t think that is true. It certainly happens with some other diagnoses. For example, allergies and mental health conditions.

Also, schools themselves have changed. Traditional classrooms with forward-facing individual desks and highly structured, formal teaching suited a lot of very academic ASD children, especially where discipline was effectively enforced and classes were well organised and small. Now, there is much more emphasis on group work, informal discussion and self-assessment, which often leaves ND kids excluded, bullied and with sensory overload.

Don’t forget that in the 1960s it was also normal to leave school at 14 instead of being shoehorned into a one-size-fits-nobody classroom environment till your early 20s.

Now, there is much more emphasis on group work, informal discussion and self-assessment, which often leaves ND kids excluded, bullied and with sensory overload.

Not forgetting the chaos of secondary school corridors, very bad behaviour, shouting, swearing, pushing, shoving, vaping in the toilets, calling out in class.

My DS has completely withdrawn from school and now can't attend at all as it is a completely unpredictable sensory disaster.