To think there is an ASD diagnosis epidemic for boys at the moment?

[SleepFreeZone]

My son is being investigated, my sisters boy has a diagnosis, one of the other Mothers at preschool is also undergoing an assessment for her son, my sister's friend's son has been diagnosed and obviously on here it seems every other post talks about a child with Autism or on the spectrum.

Do you think this is a new thing or that it's always been there but only now has a name? I am an older mum as is my sister as is my sister's friend so I'm wondering if this is one of the reasons for so many children having this condition now as so many people are having their children later 🤔

[Catgotyourbrain]

exactly @Spikeyball and @Muckypup73 - its one of the things non-specialist medical professionals latch onto mistakenly. And lining up cars. Can't tell you how many times that question has been asked.

[24HourTrainer]

Yes I do OP but you can see how people like Jaxing are pounced on if they dare suggest it.

The map shows percentages of children diagnosed with ADHD.

[MoMandaS]

Not sure what you're trying to show there, 24, nor why you're giving us 'information' about ADHD when the OP was talking about ASD.

[Sirzy]

There are probably a vast amount more children who are autistic and haven't been diagnosed than children who have been diagnosed with autism when they aren't.

To be diagnosed with autism is a very long, multidisciplinary process so if at the end of that everyone comes together and agrees someone has autism then it is exceptionally likely they do!

[SleepFreeZone]

That's helpful Sirzy. I'm keen to get him in front of someone professional to be honest as I've been on this merry go round so far for two years.

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

People like my husband and me weren't diagnosed when we were kids. My children have been. They get help, support, understanding instead of criticism. It's a massive improvement.

I was just told I was 'difficult' and it was far worse for the boys I knew.

[Catgotyourbrain]

@24HourTrainer
Your point is very very vaguely valid in the US where their crazy healthcare system makes all sorts of weird shit happen.

We have a much more rigorous diagnosis system in this country and we don't even recognise the condition 'ADD' (without the hyperactivity element) here.

Don't confuse us with the US. Also you and me, sorry are sidelining the discussion as we aren't talking ADHD. FWIW the medication for ADHD is not expensive at all - it is a controlled drug, but its also incredibly effective and life-changing. Unfortunately if you have ASD there isn't a drug like that for you.

[snotato]

I am waiting for a referal for my 6yo ds to see if he has asd.

[Ouryve]

Diagnosis here is very different to in the us.

ADHD even more so. Some people on a us forum were horrified that it took a whole 6 months of visits, observations and interviews to get ds1's ADHD diagnosis ( he already an ASD diagnosis) because it's the norm in many parts of the us to be diagnosed in a morning.

[SleepFreeZone]

It's interesting that they are mostly boys that are affected.

[TheRealPooTroll]

I'd hardly class 2 children at one school being investigated and 2 others that you know of having diagnosis as an epidemic of diagnosis. You've clearly been discussing it so people are going to talk to you about their children with asd/being investigated.
I would describe my child as being mildly effected. I don't find that offensive. Most people say they wouldn't know he has sen. He's bright and copes well socially most of the time. It has taken a lot of intervention to get to that stage though and he does have difficulties but has learned a lot of coping strategies. Diagnosis has been helpful in the case of teachers who are educated about asd and have been able to help him. For the few who don't believe in it hasn't been helpful at all.

[Sirzy]

Autism is more prevalent in boys, however it is also generally much harder to diagnose in Girls due to them presenting in a different way and often being much better at masking - a common one is they will copy their peers in order to fit in so will appear to have good imagination/social skills on the surface but when you look deeper it's just a way of coping

[TheRealPooTroll]

Girls need to be more severe to get noticed as they are better socially and less boisterous than boys naturally (obviously there are exceptions). Misdiagnosis is more common in girls as well. A recent study showed that a large proportion of girls with eating disorders met the criteria for Aspergers.

[raspberryblush23]

I'm a bit on the fence about this tbh and I'll try to explain why. My DS 8 is waiting to be assessed for ASD: he is academically average with poor fine motor skills. We thought dyspraxia yet his OT recommended he be assessed due to some social difficulties and a few other repetitive behaviours. A family member has autism with severe learning difficulties and another family members young son had just been diagnosed. I think in our case it does seem to have a genetic element. I'm not sure about parental age being a factor as I had DS at 21.

However, in the case of DS, I feel (I may be wrong) ASD is being suggested as he is a quiet socially awkward, sensitive child that isn't as confident and as street smart as the other boys his age. For context he is being picked on by some neighbourhood kids but his inability to deal with it means he is singled out whilst the other kids get a free pass to act as they like because doesn't quite fit in to what society expects of boys. I'm quite conflicted at the moment: on one hand I want DS to thrive and if a diagnosis will help then so be it, but, and it maybe the bullying that's clouding my thinking, I feel others both kids and adults should accept my DS for how he is and not exclude him or label him with something as he doesn't quite conform to accepted gendered behaviours.

[SleepFreeZone]

That's really interesting re. eating disorders

[SleepFreeZone]

raspberry DS is also very submissive with his peers and regularly gets his stuff taken off of him even if I'm there! He just doesn't have the ability to be sneaky or manipulative so they run rings around him sadly.

[lizzyj4]

I think professionals are getting much better at recognising it fortunately. One of my children wasn't diagnosed with HFA until late secondary school - there were clear problems all the way through school and he was assessed in infant school (and looking back now it's obvious what the problem was all along), but it just wasn't picked up back then.

Also, as autism has at least some genetic components, if one child has a diagnosis it's more likely that other children in the extended family will too.

[Tainbri]

I agree, it's always been there but not recognised. Kids were known as quirky or loaners etc, same goes for dyslexia. Back in the day ignorance meant there was no help and kind DS were labelled lazy or stupid. I'm glad there is much more awareness out there these days

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I am sorry to hear your ds is having a hard time raspberry

I think the way to look at it is that if your ds does get a diagnosis of asd then it changes nothing about your ds, he is who he is. What it can change is the way you view things he struggles with, the way he views himself as he gets older, and the expectations that others will have of him. It is up to you how you use the info. My dd was diagnosed aged 8 we were surprised, we thought she was possibly dyspraxic but she didn't conform to the stereotype I had of autism at the time. Now I know better. DD is supported at school and she has a better understanding of herself. She is kinder to herself because she knows there are some things she finds more difficult and there is a reason, she isn't weird or wrong. We are more tolerant of her quirks and have strategies to help her. Without the diagnosis we would not have that insight, teenage years are on the horizon a difficult time for any child but I think we have a better chance of getting through with this understanding and acceptance of dd as she is, and I wouldn't change her for the world.

20 years ago she would just be the weird girl at school with no friends, now she has support, understanding friends and less pressure to conform.