To think if ASD is costing the UK 32bn per year we need to better early screening?

[Pelot]

Autism costs the UK 32bn a year. That's more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined.

Yet we don't routinely screen all children and get them the services they need early enough. Often the system waits until a child is so unable to cope that they become disruptive in school that a referral is made. Often families don't realise (because no one tells them) that their child is displaying multiple red flags and that they will likely have higher care needs. Those families go on to have multiple affected children because they had no idea what the care needs of the first would be. Surely getting intervention and support sooner would be more cost effective and allow families a chance to be more fully informed when making decisions about subsequent children?

Where have you got this information from?

Yes, you can. I'm in the process of being diagnosed and I run my own business. I have several family members with a diagnosis and they have always worked.

Many autistic people work and "function" on the surface. That doesn't mean they're not struggling and don't have autism.

Lots of people are being diagnosed as adults.

Errm, I have a diagnosis and am very successful in my career in education. What about Cat Burns, Melanie Sykes, Elle McNicoll and so many other successful autistic women with a diagnosis?

Yep - lots of people work and get diagnosed - it's very, very normal.

Being high-masking and high-functioning (on the surface at least) doesn't mean you don't qualify for a diagnosis of autism.

Being successful in your career doesn’t mean you function well in the world. Being autistic means you don’t.

This came up on another thread, i think its not foolproof

The current theory that its genetic will be better if we can determine the genetic diagnosis but again, this came up on another thread and someone posted research studies and that also is not that accurate.

As with all things there will be a breakthrough at some point

As a parent in an ND family, I feel like most of that money is spent actively wasting our time and finding ways to withhold the support we're crying out for.

Either do we?
"Neurodivergent" isn't a diagnosis, there are many different diagnoses that fall under the ND category.

I have autism and work a high-level, person facing job in the NHS. I also do the admin, my partners civil engineering business, including dealing with customers.

Getting diagnosed with autism changed my outlook on life - it explained why I had struggled in a lot of situations throughout life.

Every diagnosis is valid.

Do you have any evidence to support this statement?

Again, you can appear to "function well in the world" when you actually struggle. Massively. It's why there's such a huge connection between high-masking autism and mental health issues.

No during her assessment, which I was part of, she talked about the traits she has. She functions very well, she has an extremely well paid job, she has a partner, she has a social life, she is organised, clean, tidy, manages herself and others. But she is ND
You seem really illinformed about the differences between people.

Is that taking parental age into account? It seems like the sort of factor that would be impacted by parental age, which is already a known risk factor.

So no autistic people are functional and happy?

I know this. Its an area I work in within my role!

Not sure catching cases of ASD would make much difference. It isn’t something which can be cured, only managed. I think there are so many people with ASD traits, who wouldn’t be classed as having ASD. It must be difficult to diagnose.

Being autistic, according to the diagnostic criteria is down to:

• Persistent deficits in social communication/interaction and
• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior

Sensory sensitivity can also be an additional part.

That's the criteria for diagnosis. I can function well in the world and yet have these three things. My diagnosis helps me to understand how best to manage my social communication deficits, restricted behaviours, and sensory sensitivities - so that I can function well in the world.

Im talking about autism and aspergers.

Another thing people argue about on this forum, there are lots of people with a diagnosis of aspergers, posters often try to silence that

Thats why I used the term ND to incorporate those 2 specific conditions, not the other ND conditions.

Yes, also, subsequent children don’t automatically have autism because their older sibling does!

I’m surprised at the cost. And that it’s more than the cost of say, cancer.

I have 3 children and the 2 eldest have ASD. Younger one was diagnosed aged five and the eldest at 15. One is at a special school and may never live independently and the other got As and Bs in their GCSEs, is doing A levels now (all mainstream education) and can’t wait to go to university. Not everyone who is on the spectrum has high care needs but there definitely needs to be more support and research into not just why it occurs but also different education techniques.

My husband and I had a 3rd child together knowing they might also be autistic like their siblings (and if I’m honest, parents.Neither husband or I have been diagnosed but we almost definitely are too).

I manage an Autism social care team- some of our care packages are £7k+ a week for one person- the amount of professionals around the individual is astronomical- we can sit in meetings of 15+ professionals weekly discussing the person's needs. Think of the cost to employ those professionals. Lots stuck in hospital as there isn't an appropriate provider to take on the care package- this is a massive cost to health. The cost of Autism is huge when not managed appropriately.

Well what would help would be more funding for specialist school places

Current methodology of education is one of inclusivity, it has been fought for, for decades. What this has resulted in, is children's needs not being met under that guise. Its been convenient for successive governments and this then filters down to LAs, to insist that all mainstream can meet most ND/SEN needs

They cant of course and children with challenging needs are being let down and the rest of the class are also let down. The sheer amount of time and resources that schools cant cope with is not recognised.

I often think about a man I managed years ago who very evidently had the form of autism that used to be known as Asperger’s. He struggled so hard but had managed with difficulty to stay in paid work until he was made redundant in his 50s.

He contacted me a few years later to say he’d now been diagnosed with Autism. There must be many like him who just weren’t aware so didn’t get the help they needed.

It is everywhere now. Two of my nephews. One niece. My son’s GF is diagnosed autistic but if she’d grown up when I did I doubt she would have been screened for it or able to get the help she needs. She thinks my son is autistic too and is encouraging him to look into it.

@LazJaz

autism.org/pregnancy-spacing-may-affect-odds-of-asd/

Here's one but there are quite a few studies to pick from. Too close or even too far apart and the odds jump dramatically.