Why are so many children autistic these days?

[Superlambaanana]

I've just seen someone comment on a thread that 4 out of 5 of their DC are autistic. So many classroom assistants in every primary class. So many parents I talk to saying they have or are fighting to get a diagnosis for their DC. And yet no one I went to school with at primary or secondary level was ever diagnosed as autistic, nor did anyone do anything that suggested they were undiagnosed like hand flapping or inability to communicate normally. Various levels of intelligence and social ability obviously, but no one who was at the level of meltdowns and needing stringent routine etc. Is it environmental?

Not sure when you went to school, but in my time, girls in particular would have gone under the radar and not be noticed. That still rings true today. Many girls mask at school and so the meltdowns etc take place when they are at home. The years of trying to fit in and not stand out mean many are being diagnosed later in life.

This is such a big area to cover in one post, but perhaps as society starts to understand neurodivergent vs neurotypical, there will be more openness and understanding all round.

Not to mention the co-existing conditions that are common with asd so someone with asd might have other debilitating issues working against them together exasperating their struggles.

Not quoting that offensive post and don’t want to even engage with that poster. Reported. Absolute ignorance and it’s disgusting.

@YouJustDoYou This isn’t at all my memory of high school in the 90s (SE England). Supply teachers were reduced to tears and I didn’t have a regular science teacher for a couple of terms as no-one wanted to teach my class.

I think there's several factors at play. Genetics absolutely does play a huge part in it. There's also the other one that people don't like to mention. Which is we are having later in life on average than our predecessors. That will definitely affect sperm and egg quality, most likely have a knock on effect in increasing ND.

Lifestyle/parenting may also be contributing to this.

I do know a few families that are/were waiting for diagnosis and referrals and had been caught in the system for years while it struggles to get caught up.

In 2 of these cases, after many tests, forms and counselling sessions, strategic meetings (no clue if I'm using the right terminology here) it came back as bad parenting but not quite labeled as such. Huge eye opener for them but obvious to us.

Another family had loads of sympathy and early help support put into place but not for ND, but essentially in the simplest terms the kid is a twat. I do think that there may be a fair few kids in the system that will fall under this highly professional diagnosis.

I'm always quite suprised at the number of posts on here from mums with children with special needs I must admit. I have no answers as to why this might be or whether quite rightly it's because mums with those kind of pressures are more prevalent on mumsnet as they frequently and understandably need to ask advice/have somewhere to vent.

My own experience was son was diagnosed at 18 with ADSD- I admit when he was around 7 I read up on high functioning autism because although very social and very intelligent he had some really odd ways- used to draw maps of the UK railway system in great detail or know every airlines colours and routes etc - it was a bit like living with rain man , except sociable and a very good communicator. He was always lazy about schoolwork but got by on a great memory - but at 16 dropped his A levels because he couldn't cope or wasn't prepared to do homework- he got an apprenticeship in tech and has worked in it ever since- now 26. We had simply decided he was clever but very lazy - but ADHD it is - he is far more organised mentally now medicated.

I do think there's an element of parents and professionals picking up on things much quicker rather than like I did - putting it down to 'just their personality'

Oh did they fuck behave.

There was still plenty of disruption and silliness in lessons, just in different ways and less opportunity. We just got (corporally sometimes) punished for it. We kicked off more with certain teachers.There was mayhem at playtimes with barely any supervision. We still ran in the corridors. I got a slap over the face for it. Still did it a few days later. There was smoking on the school grounds, truanting etc. Some behaviours were truly awful, some of them even aimed at teachers.

Are some things worse now? Sure. Just like there are many many things that are much better.

Nobody can post what most people believe, without people shrilly bleating 'troll'

I strongly believe it's multiple factors. Partly it's better diagnosis but that's not the full story. Older parents have a statistically significant risk of having an autistic child and there's more older parents. I also strongly believe that the diagnosis of autism is being given to a wide range of conditions, some are congenital so you cannot stop them from being autistic, but I also think environmental factors, upbringing causes autistic symptoms. My dd is autistic so I've been in contact with many autistic people over the years and in younger children I'm convinced that lack of communication when young is an issue but I have no proof, just a hunch from running a stay and play.

What do you claim most people believe?

Autism is absolutely not genetic.

So where did all the children with down syndrome or other genetic conditions go ? Or those with severe learning disabilities

There clearly is a spectrum of affectedness and therefore needs so contending that there isn't must have increased numbers?

You are incorrect.

Surely some parents of autistic children might find it offensive to be told/ have it assumed they must be autistic themselves? Not all parents of autistic children are themselves autistic.

Can you please point me in the direction of the research paper or information source that confirms this?

Maybe because when faced with terminal stupidity, most people just can't believe it's real. Ironic really.

I am correct. And I’m surprised you would think otherwise. One doesn’t ’inherit’ ASD.

Surely some parents of autistic children might find it offensive to be told/ have it assumed they must be autistic themselves? Not all parents of autistic children are themselves autistic.

Why do you assume being autistic thought to be autistic is offensive?
That's very ableist.
Say that again but replace autistic with another prejudice.

And sometimes not all parents with autism have autistic kids.

But recognising or being diagnosed with autism in later life - what do you now do differently? How does the recognition or diagnosis help you? Do you get counselling or therapy, or does it just make you feel relieved that you now have a label?

If there was proper support in the 80s, I should have been diagnosed then. Just diagnosed now at 47 instead

I would kill to find out the ratio of people who disbelieve autism but believe in god.

Ramping it up are you OP?

Well it's obviously a subject people feel strongly about. The speed and volume of replies proves that.

Despite many of you asserting your expertise, there seems to be no consensus here. Some say genetics. Others say environment. Others say better diagnosis. Others still that children with autism are simply more visible as they now attend mainstream schools rather than being confined to institutions or attending special schools.

The latter seems pretty compelling actually, given my personal experience of not having encountered any autistic people when I was younger. There were some children around me who were socially awkward, but none were unable to cope with everyday life - there were no meltdowns or sensory issues like not being able to be touched etc. But it does seem very plausible that children who did exhibit these traits were sent to special schools instead of mainstream education.