Have we gone too far with diagnoses of autism?

[SpinachIsLush]

I know this is a sensitive topic, and I'm sorry if it upsets anyone.

I was listening to a child psychiatrist yesterday arguing very convincingly that we've gone way too far in labelling what are essentially normal (albeit not universal, and sometimes difficult) human traits.

Have we gone too far in "diagnosing neurodiversity" so often? Is it actually because the world is increasingly difficult for young people to navigate, which is making more and more appear to fall outside "normal"?

Isn't it very difficult to get an assessment for autism? I have no first hand experience but a fellow school mom has been waiting nearly 2 years for her son to be seen. If it's very hard to access an assessment then I'd suggest many people are slipping through the net in the UK and we may have the opposite problem.

It's not a label

Do you know anyone personally with autism?

“Have we gone too far“

who is the we in this question?

If you think we've gone too far then you are clearly not aware that in many areas in the UK services are so overwhelmed that they are now only accepting referrals for autism diagnosis if the child is having extremely severe difficulties,resulting I many children being unable to get a diagnosis. And as a result unable to get the help they need in school.

I don’t think we’ve gone too far in diagnosing, because, as PP said, it can take a long time and be a difficult process to get a diagnosis.

I think it’s possible that a lot of people are self diagnosing though and perhaps not going through the formal diagnosis route.

I have been asking the same question - when does personality traits / quirks become neuro-diversity?
eg my sons school highlight some concerns and want to involve sen. To me these are just personality traits- and I’m pleased he’s not always keen to conform. Who knows. I guess it’s hard to differentiate at times.

I’m a parent of a DC with autism who on the outside appears completely NT. I was dismissed for years and told he was “normal” because DC masks so brilliantly.

Transition to high school and DC is in burn out and unable to attend school. Still I’m told he’s “normal” but his MH is in tatters.

If a child is diagnosed as autistic, there is good reason for it. “Normal” human traits are not autistic traits and undiagnosed ASD can have severe consequences for the sufferer.

No we haven't. You sound clueless and this is a thread designed to be goady. 1/10

I've reported and suggest others do too. I haven't seen a goady 'we hand out labels like sweets' ND thread for a little while so we maybe we were due.

🙄

There isn't a diagnosis of neurodiversity because that is a term describing, as you say, the diverse range of ways of thinking and experiencing the world.

I really do not think we've gone far enough in correctly identifying autistic people and supporting them with tools to cope with life and acknowledgement of difficulties they might face.

Yes, they just hand out these diagnoses like sweeties these days. Said no parent of a neurodiverse child ever because we all know how hard it actually is to get asd recognised in all too many cases.

If they were 'normal' traits they wouldnt fit the diagnostic criteria.

Not goading.

As it happens, I'm a professional in the area, and also the parent of a potentially "neurodiverse" child. I'm genuinely interested in what people think, although I did wonder (based on what I've seen of discussions in this area) whether the thread would get aggressive/defensive.

It’s not a label.

The wait list to be assessed is about 2 years where we are. Then there are many months of assessments and paperwork after that.
Even when you get a diagnosis often nothing changes as additional support in schools is seriously underfunded. Extremely hard to get DLA as well.
Once past 16 passed to adult services which are again underfunded and many just left to get on with it.

For anyone interested, this is a psychiatrist who thinks we're over-diagnosing:

I don’t think we’ve gone too far in diagnosing, because, as PP said, it can take a long time and be a difficult process to get a diagnosis.

I think it’s possible that a lot of people are self diagnosing though and perhaps not going through the formal diagnosis route.
I agree with this.
I don't think the recent surge of social media posts telling people they might be neurodiverse if they are messy / run late / rush their work at the last minute/ forget what they come into a room for /doodle in meetings etc is very helpful.

YABU. Life is very challenging for those younger people who are ND but mask successfully - which can lead them to burnout at really critical milestone stages.

Ideally, families would have diagnoses and supports/accommodations in early to ensure all children get a fair crack of life.

Yeah, you are right OP. Also, have you noticed how many people are 'diagnosed' with diabetes these days? I think that's clearly a sign of the times- people have too much food and too much leisure time. Back in the good old days when more people were starving and doing backbreaking manual labour, we didn't have all these lazy people identifying as diabetic.

Are you really a professional in this area? What are you using to inform your language? Have a read of something like Stenning and Rosqvist 2021 for what I mean about the way you're using neurodiversity. It makes no sense.

@SpinachIsLush - do you have any direct experience?
Can you give us the link to the child psychologist / programme you were listening to.

A professional in the area. Of course. 👍

There are many perspectives @SuperLoudPoppingAction, and lots of ways of talking about this. I'm aware of the one presented by Stenning & Bertilsdotter-Rosqvist. I'm also posting on a forum right now, predominantly as a parent.

There are different types of diabetes. Not all are caused by being overweight.
Years ago we didn’t know about diabetes or how to treat it so many died.

@Ylvamoon - am I really the point here? Yes. I'm a professional. I'm ADOS trained. I have published research. Not that that's actually very relevant right now.

And - perhaps more relevant - I have a great deal of family experience with ASC too.

I have a child with ASD who is super low functioning (fully aware some people don’t enjoy this term being used but it’s the medical term his paediatrican uses so bite me) it drives me crazy how the perception of ASD is always that of high functioning.
‘oh they’re really clever usually’ - he can’t use a spoon unaided
’oh he’ll just start talking in full sentences one day don’t worry’- totally non verbal no idea what we say to him.
’what’s his special interest?’ - trying to stick his fingers so far up his own bum hole we have to take him to A&E 😬

I don’t think less people should be diagnosed I just think there should be a separation in labels between those like my DS and those who are functional in society but facing a host of other issues that impact their life. My DS is severely disabled and very unlikely to ever live independently or provide basic care for himself and we’ve accepted that but being put in the same arena as others who struggle socially, anxiety…etc but can function to a basic level in society is just a slap in the face.