social media is convincing all our kids they are nd?

[AuntMarch]

I've just been sat on the bus and the tiktok videos I'm hearing almost have me seeking a diagnosis.
"ADHD TEST" Put a finger down if you've ever focused on something so much you've lost track of time/ sometimes think you talk too much or not enough.."
it's basically covered every possible behaviour and it's video after video.

it's no wonder every kid thinks they have something.

Nope. For an autism diagnosis- there is the ADOS which is a long session of observed activities by 2 professionals, an in-depth developmental history, then sessions with family and yourself.

Precisely my point. Huge history taking, lots of questions, in order to tick boxes in order to give a diagnosis. If the boxes are not ticked, a diagnosis is not given. That is how diagnosis works. It is essentially descriptive of symptoms which are then categorised into a 'disorder'.

Observed activities, history taking, impact on life.

I didn't say it wasn't long. I said that is what diagnosis is. Which it is.

It's also incredibly inaccurate. And basically made up and unscientific. Most of the DSM is essentially made up. Cluster of behaviours and reported internal goings on = a disorder or 'diagnosis'.

I think we’re using the term “tick box” in very different ways. To me, a “tick box” diagnosis is “you have x y and z symptoms, so you have condition A. An autism diagnosis is much more complex than that. It’s not just about your symptoms, but about how they impact you and how long they’ve impacted you for.

Says who- you?

@Bellsbeachwaves I am the first person to highlight the flaws in all systems, especially the medical profession.

The ADOS assessment, as per NICE guidance really is so much more than being conveyed by reference to ticking boxes.

Who has been diagnosed as Autistic who is not actually Autistic? Where are these people. It's going to be a problem of under diagnosis in reality.

Under diagnosis is well reported.

Also you are screened before diagnosis so the not likely to be autistic will not have got as far as diagnosis, then you have the fact that most are pretty accurate in their suspicion, have a family history of it or have been advised to by professionals to seek diagnosis following children being diagnosed or sometimes when being treated for something else. I wouldn’t go through all the rigmarole or have it on my records if I didn’t think it highly likely I had it. Others will be exactly the same.

Ie most people going for diagnosis are going to be autistic.

Yes, exactly. Most adults who go for an assessment are pretty bloody certain they’re autistic or they wouldn’t be asking for a diagnosis to begin with. I went to my GP about a diagnosis as multiple family members are autistic and I’d experienced multiple periods of burnout. He had me fill out an AQ10 and I scored full marks.

I then sat on a waiting list for months with no support or anything, eventually went for diagnosis and then…nothing. There’s no support out there, no medication, no therapy. In fact, I have to pay £52 a session to see a therapist as what’s available on the NHS isn’t suitable for autistic individuals.

I'm wonder how this discussion will look like in 10 years' time. We used to see masked depression, unresolved trauma, toxic personalities and now ND as THE explanation for why life is difficult for so many people. It takes a lot of courage to say 'we are now getting things 100% right, we do have THE answer' when historically this was never the case before....

ADHD drugs have wider life benefits, study suggests - BBC News

Despite the surge in people asking for help, the disorder is not becoming more common. Last year a BBC investigation found long waits for assessment in the UK.
People are only diagnosed if the symptoms cause at least a moderate impact on their lives.