Autism rate unbelievable

[OneShyLimeBird]

I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but the rate of autism has increased so much that I am doubting my own high functioning diagnosis, and the diagnoses of many others. The meaning of autism has expanded so much that virtually every other child has it. It used to be so rare, I’m not saying your child doesn’t have needs but you used to have to meet a much higher threshold to be diagnosed with autism that it’s now lost all meaning. It can’t all be autism.

My point was that he was given a diagnosis during his first ever meeting with a paediatrician. I don’t know what ansses he’s had at school. And yes, it was during lockdown hence why it was on Zoom. The child is also very severely affected and was given a place in a special school once he had his diagnosis (and rightly so). Parents shouldn’t have to battle for a diagnosis where the condition is blatantly obvious. I wasn’t bemoaning children receiving diagnoses too readily, quite the opposite!

Yep, that's like saying people can be a bit pregnant. It's binary. You are, or you aren't.

I don't know what the reason is, but an awful lot of posters on Mumsnet seem to have autistic children. It feels like a significant chunk of the population is autistic. It struck me over on another thread - inconsiderate house guests are encouraging a girl not to study for exams. The girl happens to have autism and ADHD. It just seems to come up a lot.

It seems but it isn't. That's why feels and seems aren't facts. The facts are than in about 100 children you'll have 3 with autism. Or 1 in 36 .

You see it more on here as the user base is huge, and also because people tend to post when they need help/advice/support . No one is going to post about their NT, well adjusted , happy thriving kid, are they?

Im not sure if we are saying the same thing, in terms of the contact with the child, yes its perfectly possible it was a single zoom call. We had other assessments completed that way during lockdown

But paperwork and background is a separate thing. Anyway, the poster hasnt clarified but I dont find it unbelieveable at all.

I dont think its representative to be honest, there are common themes and misuses of terminology/poor advice and misunderstanding of behaviour that come up time and time again on this forum, more so than others I think

Nearly everything is described as a MH issue
Nearly everyone is advised that they need therapy or counselling for things that often are just likes or dislikes, common human behaviour
Nearly everyone knows or is trying to get away from someone who is narcissist
Nearly everyone is on the spectrum or whose children are on the spectrum or the query is banded around in response to a problem 'is he ND'
Nearly everyone has concerns about 'safeguarding' and 'county lines' even though these terms are used incorrectly most of the time
Nearly everyone advises someone to 'log it with 101' when it requires no such thing
Nearly everyone advises the smallest school disagreement to be 'reported to Ofsted'

Yes I have a bingo card!!!

It's as if people don't realise that mumsnet has millions of users and that thousands of posts are made daily. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@OneShyLimeBird

It might be something else. I don’t think it should all come under autism. It’s offensive.

Doctors only refer you if they think you meet certain criteria. Even then it doesn't mean you be diagnosed just because you suspect it.

But we are all different. I can't even get into a car.

@ThatSongFromTheBar

Also, there's seems a need to over-share and everyone needs to know if you/your child are autistic even when it's not relevant to the situation. Maybe it gives some kind of entitlement or excuse for behaviours.

When is it not relevant?

@Singersong

Having an official diagnosis by a trained dr isn't the same as someone on here suggesting they may be autistic.

@Anonym00se

Because that's the format you expect.

Just assume appealing as part of the process.

Yes it crap and the DWP need looking into. I appealed twice.

It's very prevalent on MN. Personally, i never engaged with social media or spent time online but I was constantly looking for support for my kids, mostly behaviour stuff as 2 have diagnosis. I found myself often reading old threads on MN that were really helpful and then started to click on more regularly. Now I'll read all sorts of stuff and spend far too much time here. I suspect there are many others like me.

@CatMumSlave I didn't say that, you must have quoted the wrong person.

Sorry not sure how that happened. No it wasn't you.

Maybe a lot of posters have a limited social or work life because of their MD children so seek an outlet in forums.

There aren't types of autism though. There are degrees of severity of presentation. Like the MS example. I have meltdowns, shutdowns, have sensory issues, communication issues. It's just that mine aren't as severe as some.

You got one thing right, op.... It IS offensive ... as in your posts are offensive.

With all sincerity OP, why does it matter if others are dx with asd and have different support needs?

It's not pie, your "slice" isn't smaller because someone else has a dx

Really. Well I would suggest you meet my daughter.

Intelligent, on the way to AAB A-levels, can cook, learning to drive is a struggle but we are getting there.

She also has regular full blown panic attacks, anxiety and meltdowns. She is 17, so not running away anymore.

She self-harmed, had suicidal attempts as nobody would help her understanding what was going on in her head.

She is what was previously Asperger, she has subtle non-eye contact unless she knows a person very well, is socially not able to do small talk, comes over very rude as she doesn't understand non-verbal interaction and is in therapy to learn to live with her diagnosis for 2 years.

You have absolutely no idea about most ASD people who will seem to you "normal".