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 🤔

[itsawonderfulworld]

Interesting question OP. Personally I think it's a bit of both.

I know your post is specifically about autism, but as some PPs have pointed out there is also a huge increase in diagnosis of ADD (and associated drug prescription). When it comes to ADD I personally believe that part of the reason for the increase (although by no means all of it) is due to early regular use of screens, even TV. When DC1 was born I remember reading studies about how neurological connections are formed in the brain, and how TV programmes directed at very young children (In the Night Garden and the like) use very frequent frame changes to keep babies mesmerised. This in turn encourages short-term neurological connections to form, at the expense of long-term ones. It made sense to me in that children today are certainly used to being fed constant stimulating input and don't learn how to be "happily bored", entertaining themselves with sticks and stones or whatever.

We actually didn't let DC1 watch TV before the age of 2 - but of course couldn't keep this up with DC2 who was a complete screen addict from a much earlier age. Today, DC1 does have much better concentration abilities (but is equally screen-obsessed - phone, computer etc). DC2 does find it hard to sit down and focus on a task for any length of time but not to the point of ADD. It could of course equally be down to individual genetic pre-disposition, but I do think screen time reduces concentration - I notice it in myself (too much time on MN, lol).

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Sorry a bit off topic there!

I have a boy with ASD as well. I think the rise in diagnosis is due to better understanding of the condition and public awareness leading people to seek referral for children. It is probably genetic in most cases there is definitely supporting evidence for that in my family.

[ouryve]

My sister had her kids in her early 20s and I was in my mid 30s and we both have children on the spectrum.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

My children with asd diagnoses are very different in concentration issues. Ds is hyper focused always has been. As a tiny child he could play on his own and very content lining toys up in spirals. These days he will read for hours, build with Lego, play Pokemon or on roblox for hours. There is no problem with concentration. His problem is distraction caused by noise or other people. He wears ear defenders to combat this.

DD will also concentrate on her special interests, drawing and playing minecraft/ roblox/ undertale for hours. She can concentrate on things she is interested in but also finds the presence if other people a distraction. They are very well behaved at school, they don't have many limits on screen time other than all screens off before bed (they are not left in their rooms overnight). I think short attention spans are more to do with distraction than inability to concentrate at all.

[brasty]

OP the diagnosis criteria has changed. Kids that at one time would not have met the criteria, do now.

[Spikeyball]

Ds with little concentration apart from his special interests doesn't watch tv or use screens. He has no interest in them.