Do you believe everyone is slightly autistic?

[Unfriendlywoes]

Constantly have people saying this to me, usually when I’m trying to open up about my struggles with my ASD dd. I feel like a complete failure as a parent quite a lot, and feel so utterly broken and angry after fighting and begging for support for so long and still not getting any really. Currently draining all of my finances to access private therapies for her. If it’s a case of everyone is slightly autistic, why is it so fucking hard?

I suppose what I meant to say is that the diagnostic criteria has widened so much, and there are videos on the subject, that virtually anyone can be diagnosed as autistic, there used to be very strict guidelines as to what autism was, criteria you had to hit to be diagnosed, for example reading context, processing multiple information simultaneously, emotional regulation issues, lack of flexible thinking, differences in thinking feeling and processing, and the list goes on.
now a young child who is tired and acting out which is a normal child behaviour, or other generally children who are acting like children can be diagnosed with autism.

I agree with this. Autism isn't like diabetes where there is a simple test that can be run to check specific biological markers and a definitive diagnosis can be given. It's also not as binary as being pregnant or not pregnant. One mark on an assessment devised and undertaken by humans with imperfect knowledge of the condition could be the difference between receiving or not receiving a diagnosis. Add to this the fact that definition of autism has changed significantly over time and is highly likely to continue to do so then I become very suspicious of the 'diagnosis is everything' culture.

I also think there is something a bit misleading by the assertions that autism and neurodiversity in general is defined by how it impacts someone's life or how 'disabling' it is. This can very quickly become a race to the bottom, especially when it is already controversial that people with what would have been previously described as high functioning Aspergers are assigned the same 'autism' label as a non verbal, incontinent person with autism. Also, those with extreme autistic traits but who technically have a Broader Autism Phenotype as opposed to meeting the full criteria of Autism can feel like second class citizens as their very real struggles are completely ignored because they don't fit neatly into the Autism box.

Bumpitybumper · Today 07:27

”One mark on an assessment devised and undertaken by humans with imperfect knowledge of the condition could be the difference between receiving or not receiving a diagnosis.”

There we go, true ignorance summed up in one sentence. That is not how autism diagnosis works.

And re your it isn’t disabling. Try living with it. It has a catastrophic impact on lives.

Nope. Wrong and ignorant again.

Yes.

The tests for autism are quite precise. You are talking out of your hole now.

Ignorant fool.

There are articles easily found on the subject by people with PHDs, based around studies and evidence that explains the criteria has widened and been broadened so much that children with normal behaviours that are caused by other factors are being handed out an autism/ADHD diagnosis like sweets

Surely saying the everyone is slightly autistic would be the same as saying to a blind person well most people have some vision loss, or to a completely deaf person, everyone has some hearing loss.

It's not the "some" that's the problem.

Namchanged
“There are articles easily found on the subject by people with PHDs, based around studies and evidence that explains the criteria has widened and been broadened so much that children with normal behaviours that are caused by other factors are being handed out an autism/ADHD diagnosis like sweets”

Do link this is utterly ludicrous and the reverse of what is actually happening. The waits for a diagnosis are years long and you have to jump through hoops just to see if you are suitable for assessment let alone actually have one. The assessments are thorough and intensive.

“ Handed out like sweets” I think we see your agenda.

By clinicians, professors, etc. For example a child with behavioural issues that could have been caused by another other mental disorder being diagnosed with autism, getting less or no play time and then you have a restless child being diagnosed with ADHD, there are many examples of this

No.

But as someone who was diagnosed with Asperger's rather than autism, I do think the change to everyone being "autistic" hasn't actually helped matters.

And yes, I know there are a lot of issues with the Aspergers label but I do think that many people who wouldn't be diagnosed with autism today would maybe have received a diagnosis and support under the old system.

Do show where. I simply can’t see how it can happen. Such children would have a lot of involvement with SEN departments, then they’d see a Ed Psych which often takes years, then there has to be a lot of evidence to go in the initial referral forms which are scrutinised, then if they meet criteria for the diagnosis process there is a significant wait for that to happen (years), then there are long lengthy sessions run by clinicians with any involvement with services and education support scrutinised , family history is scrutinised and an ADOS completed.Quite the reverse happens to diagnosis being handed out like sweets.Women and girls often go undiagnosed for years with catastrophic results.

Wow this thread… I’m speechless.

my 11yo DD has just recently been diagnosed with autism after literally years of me talking to school, and to others, and being told that ‘as she doesn’t struggle academically she isn’t autistic’ as it’s literally taken a total burnout and school refusal to get someone to listen to us.

no, autism diagnosis are not ‘handed out like sweets’ and it’s not ‘normal child behaviour’. My child and many others like her struggle hugely but are brushed aside because she’s capable of masking it for a few hours at school. You don’t see the exhaustion and upset at home, the bright spunky child who hides herself to fit in with others at huge cost. The cost to the whole damn family of her behaviours.

no not everyone is autistic and no, it’s not the trendy new thing. Take your ignorance away and educate yourselves.

That’s a crazy thing to say. Maybe these children DO have autism. It took YEARS to get a diagnosis for my daughter. She got it finally when she was 16- the process started when she was 12. Hours of assessments and questions for both of us. It wasn’t just one person doing the assessing either and the criteria was very specific.
i have other children who are quite clearly also autistic- but they live with their dad and won’t entertain getting assessed. Sad for them. My eldest son (25) in particular could really do with support because he finds it so hard to interact with others and is always rubbing people up the wrong way.

No and it pisses me right off when people come out with that bollocks

@margotrose

I actually preferred it when you could be diagnosed with Aspergers, and was saddened when that option was removed from many nhs/camhs areas.

It costs a LOT of money to get a diagnosis but if you want to use doctor google that is fine too. Some of us with a diagnosis prefer to use clinical psychologists and psychiatrists.

I dont think I make sense of what you have said. You were diagnosed with aspie which is fine as I am an aspie too but it is autism and it is the same spectrum so not entirely sure what you mean?

My son has autism and adhd it took 3 years to get his diagnosis it’s been utter hell to get any support or help for him. We are having an incredibly challenging time just now with him. His diagnosis wasn’t handed out and neither were other peoples I can’t believe that people say stuff like that to kids/families going through this. Do you who are saying it have a kid with autism or adhd if not come and walk a day in my shoes and the other parents and people with autism. It is disabling, it’s limiting it’s been terrible I don’t know if my son will finish school, if he will have friends if he’ll stop soiling himself etc
People need to stop with their generalisations. Support is so hard to come by i empathise with you op I’m really struggling too

You clearly have never been through the diagnostic process. Let me enlighten you as I can assure you they are certainly not handed out like sweets. DC can't even be assessed without other professionals agreeing to put them forward onto the pathway for diagnosis. For our DS this took over 2 years which is faster than a lot of areas. We had to demonstrate his needs and difficulties to 3 other professionals before it was agreed he could be assessed. I suggest you take your ignorance off this thread as you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

Couldn't agree more with this

Do you have that view with all disabilities or is it just hidden disabilities?

I used to think that about my family but realised we're all autistic but some of us have been masking for so long we've forgotten we're doing it!

I wish people would explain where all the support I can get is......
Or some that might actually help.
My 17 year old not able to be in education - now as a result of all the pushing & conforming can't even leave the house. But people think he can hold down a job....
Can't access mental health support as suffers with selective Mutism (even the phrase implies a choice!!!!!) & can't speak to people & they only offer verbal therapies.
But MASSH have just referred him back again to CAMHS - 10 months since last started this loop.
Or the NEET team - as he needs to be in education but they only deal with mainstream options - which are not suitable.
Oh & the autism team/echo who never return your calls