'Increase' in ASD/ADHD

[Sunsnet]

There are a lot of discussion at the moment on this subject and many people who believe that people are faking these conditions in themself or their children. This makes it very difficult for those with these diagnoses to be taken seriously and feels like a massive attack and dismissal of their genuine struggles so shouldn't the question actually be, why is there a massive increase in Munchausen's and Munchausen's by Proxy (child abuse)?

I do agree with you. Even if that documentary was done well 3 is not proof of widespread misdiagnosis of ADHD and it is no proof at all of ASD misdiagnosis. But I didn't want to completely poo poo it, hence why I said it is a start. People have been making these claims for decades though and the only bit of proof any of them seem to have is this one documentary and an anecdote from an angry relative.

No worries. We've all done it. I struggle to make my thoughts coherent a lot of the time and to only have one at a time. It's a bit chaotic in here!

All of this stuff about glamorisation is hogwash.

Yes there are the trendy successful autistics a la Gates, Musk etc.

However, and I really do want to emphasise this - the main thing that has changed about autism is that people diagnosed with it are treated decently, they are not ostracised from society, nor do they lose their autonomy.

20 years ago I didn’t want to be diagnosed because I felt people would see me as a R-word…. I worried I would lose control over my own life and be denied opportunities.

I got diagnosed recently because I saw that things are better - both within the medical profession and out in the world, it gave me confidence to do it for myself. I had no worries for my child because I know the environment is one of support and protection, not prejudice and abuse.

The autistics have always been there but they have not been able to come forward due to fear about how they will be treated by NT.

It isn’t glamour it’s safety that is dictating things.

But there does seem to be an increase in teenage kids & young adults identifying as autistic whether diagnosed or not.

I don't really know where this stems from but my teenage DD talks about this a lot. There are a lot of tik toks / you tube/ instagram accounts of teenagers who are adopting an autistic identity. Now, undoubtedly some of them will be ND but it's a bit like a trans identity it marks a person out, in the mindset of some teens as being a bit edgy or different. No one can really question a person who says that they are autistic, they may well be correctly diagnosed, it's not like you can tell by looking at someone. But the number of accounts with #lgbtqia and #actuallyautistic (for exampe) or #adhd is definitely on the increase.

I find it quite fascinating as my two teenagers treat their autism very differently. My son who had major struggles when he was younger doesn't want to be seen as autistic, he doesn't tell anyone and masks like a pro when out. He has even spoken to CAMHS about revisiting his diagnosis at some point in the future which is entirely his choice. I don't think that the outcome will be different but who am I to say. The difference between him now and at the point of his diagnosis is that he/ we know the triggers for when it is too much and we have largely built our existence around them. He also is studying A Levels and he is able to channel one of his special interests through focusing and doing amazingly well in this particular subject. He takes seratonin to manage the level of anxiety that every day existence, that his neurodiversity, has given him. When he comes off these he can't manage so it is agreed that it is likely that he will need this lifelong, but especially on transitions and times of change. No one outside knows this they see a bright, slightly socially awkward teenager.

My daughter who is 14 very much owns her autism. She has very many more sensory issues and quirks/ ticks than her brother. For her being autistic a real part of her identity. The tik toks and instagram accounts have been helpful to her because her NT peers have more understanding etc. I think she is happier than he is.

This is all a bit of babble and purely my own perspective. It is VERY positive that autism is talked about more. The only downside of the social media is generally it talks about the quirks and identity but doesn't focus on the very real struggles as much which I think plays into the hands of those who say it is a personality type rather than a neurological difference which can, at times and for some always, be disabling.

And I do think that there is a very big difference in neurodiversity between individuals. My two kids are both autistic but are entirely different from each other both in personality and needs. I feel fortunate that when their needs are managed, which takes a mammoth and often unseen effort by them and the strategies we jointly put in place to enable it, they can live very happy and successful lives and I am very well aware that this is not the case for some autistic people.

@lifeturnsonadime - just as a little piece of advice for your son (or perhaps...additional information). He may feel that his diagnosis doesn't accurately reflect his current situation, but my experience (and that of many my age) is that it may well do in the future. As we age, many of us get less able to mask and generally put up with the stresses of surviving in a world designed for the NT. Of course, no teenager ever wants to think about what life will be like in their 30s and 40s, but the general trend is for life to become more intrusive rather than less, and the teenage years seem to be the time when most folk are most able to mask constantly without the cost being high.

I guess my point is that your username accurately reflects reality - he may well find that, if he gets his report rewritten for his current circumstances to say that he doesn't really need any support and suddenly those circumstances change, he's going to be high and dry. That's much worse than a report that says he does need support when he doesn't.

If there's one thing that all us mostly-surviving-in-the-modern-world autistic folk want the NT world to know, it's that our level of operating success can change dramatically, unpredictably and - most importantly - very quickly. That's often camouflaged in the safe family environment of the young, but living independently...totally different story.

I guess all I'm saying is...you're right that it's totally his choice, but I've seen enough horror stories (and lived a few myself) that I'd feel remiss if I didn't advise caution.

Take that as you will, of course. Fully appreciate that I'm just words on a screen ;)

Adult recently diagnosed with ASD and ADHD here.
Its not more prevalent, people are now however willing to recognise it in other forms than the most stereotypical presentation (straight while males for one) since my diagnosis and learning a lot about both conditions I see it in adults everywhere I go, all undiagnosed of course. I believe the only difference now is that we are more aware of the spectrum and range of symptoms that come with that.

Thanks for your insight @ntmdino

If there's one thing that all us mostly-surviving-in-the-modern-world autistic folk want the NT world to know, it's that our level of operating success can change dramatically, unpredictably and - most importantly - very quickly. That's often camouflaged in the safe family environment of the young, but living independently...totally different story.

This is so true. In fact even in the camouflage of family life my son's level of operating has changed dramatically and unpredictably over the years.

I have advised him, as have CAMHS, to do nothing for now as being diagnosed is not something he needs to share in any event but can be useful if things go wrong in the future. Hopefully he will realise that is sound advice.

Your post from yesterday....

Westernesse · Yesterday 18:00

Nothing from the NHS, school very supportive and he is doing very well. We do now get DLA.

I think we overall got the right outcome by sheer luck in the but the process gave me no confidence whatsoever that there is any real diagnostic robustness as to any of it.

So if you didn't apply for DLA, why does your child get it?

Your story is inconsistent.

And?

I wasn’t the one who applied for it.

Sorry I posted too soon.

Your story is inconsistent.

How does your child get DLA as you said yesterday at 18.00 but today you say you didn't know it was a possibility?

Both of those things can't be true.

Deary me. I wasn’t the one who applied for it.

It is not the fact you are saying that you didn't apply for it, today you said you weren't aware of it, but yesterday at 18.00 you were and said your child receives it.

I'd get your story straight.

wow.

My experience indicated to me that some people are very invested in the outcome, particularly teachers and private assessment providers, and that they will stretch to make behaviours fit with diagnostic criteria.

A few questions about this bold statement.

Why do you think that teachers have the power to influence diagnosis when they are not present at assessments and do not have any decision / diagnosis making power?

Why would teachers benefit from a child being diagnosed?

Why would private assessment providers benefit from a child being given a positive/ false diagnosis which is contrary to their professional obligations ? What financial or other benefit will it give them given that they will be paid for the assessment rather than the outcome?

Do you think they stretched to make your child's diagnosis?

Do you think that it is morally correct that you have implied that they have misdiagnosed your child yet still have allowed DLA to be applied for for your child at state expense when you think that your child's diagnosis may be unsound?

Do you think that it is double standards to accuse others use their child's diagnosis as a Blue Peter badge when your child/ family gets financial benefit from your own child's diagnosis that you think may be unsound?

Is the bar very low or could it be possible that you are not as well informed as to where the bar is as the doctors who diagnosed your child? It is very difficult to judge though as you have never stated WHY you think the diagnosis is wrong or why everyone else thinks it's right.

You seem to see this as a massive conspiracy. Honestly, what is in it for the teachers and assessors to falsely diagnose your child? They've already go the money, the report is WAY shorter if they don't diagnose! Teachers don't get paid more to teach and autistic child so why? What has convinced you of this?

@Westernesse I’m presuming a social worker applied for the DLA on behalf of your child if you didn’t.

Your child has been incredibly lucky to have teachers pick up on issues and that they coupled with social workers/other professionals carrying out the assessment have advocated for them and got a result that ensures your child’s needs are met.

What a horrible post. No, it was not a social worker. My partner, my child’s mother applied for the DLA.

I don’t think it’s a massive conspiracy at all. Just incompetence and a desire not to be wrong. Some teachers nowadays see ASD in everything and they don’t want to be wrong. The school contributes to the assessment process.

I think my child has one or two mild autistic traits which were a challenge in the early years of primary school but not so much now. Does it meet the diagnostic criteria for autism? I have some doubts. A few things had to be stretched (beyond credibility in my view) by those assessing.

its very hard to access any statistics on the numbers of assessments which don’t result in an autism diagnosis. At all times in the process we went through it felt to me that it was framed towards “getting” an autism diagnosis rather than any impartial inquiry into actually finding out.

No, I don’t think it’s double standards from me at least. I didn’t get much of a say, and was largely steamrollered towards a pre-determined conclusion.

I just have to accept it, as long as my kid is happy and thriving.

Just to show I have not picked “social worker” out of the air - you said that a social worker was involved in your child’s assessment. This is a bit unusual. But what isn’t is social workers, where there is already involvement, helping people to fill out DLA forms.

No offence was meant.

I'm sorry but I am actually fucking speechless (this doesn't happen a lot) about the Blue Peter badge comment.

Yes, my kids being diagnosed with a lifelong neurodevelopment disorder which has a massively increased statistical risk of mental health conditions, suicide and suicidal ideation plus all the issues with diagnostic overshadowing, misdiagnosis, employment issues, difficulties in relationships and generally making everything a fucktonne harder in their lives... that's obviously me feeling some injustice because I never got a sodding Blue Peter badge as a kid.

Incidentally the autistic child has three of the bastard things and I never got a picture on Tony Hart's Gallery when I was a kid.

You are either on a wind up (which considering the anti autistic hate speech all over MN at the moment is fairly likely), or you've had an empathy bypass.

Yes, it certainly seemed unusual to me. That’s how these private assessment firms work, the use social workers to assess medical conditions such as ASD, and a nurse will read their report and sign it off. Not a doctor in sight.