Autism is not a disease; it’s a condition (1 Viewer)

[roguenuke]

We’re not talking about the 1990s. We’re talking about the stratospheric increase from 2011-2022. This has nothing to do with a change in diagnostic criteria because it didn’t change. As noted previously, it’s either misdiagnosis of other conditions as autism or an increase in exposure to the cause(s) of autism.

It's still the same thing. People didn't suddenly start having their children evaluated at massive rates right away. My son was determined to be ASD during your time period. My mother at that time was still telling me that he was just "normal", kids have different rates of development. This mentality didn't just go away because it suddenly became after 2010. There are still people in denial about whether their children are on the spectrum. We still have backwoods doctors saying the same thing to their patients' parents that my mother said to me. They are just fewer and fewer.

Additionally, there have been many kids who likely were misdiagnosed. Especially those who have multiple factors. My brother never got diagnosed because they were convinced all his problems learning, especially when it came to communication, was because of hearing problems he had at birth. My brother has many of the same traits, presentations as my son, just at a higher functioning level. He was believed to have a hearing problem, which they believe was caused by an accident my mother was involved in while pregnant. He wasn't deaf, but since he was also not responding properly and needed tubes in his ears for about a decade, that was considered why he was having issues learning to talk, awkwardness, etc.

And there are people telling others now online that all they have to do is not get their kids vaccinated, not feed their kid certain foods, feed their kids only certain foods, and/or give their kids these special vitamins, drinks, etc and their kid won't be autistic, even today. That is going to make the rate of autism vary.

 

[roguenuke]

It's mainly #1, but not only for the reason you give. Broader diagnostic criteria have allowed many higher functioning individuals on the spectrum to be diagnosed. There has been an effort by parent and educational advocacy groups to get these individuals identified so appropriate services and accommodations can be provided to them, for good reason in most cases.

There is a tendency to over diagnose some psychiatric disorders as the public becomes more aware of them and treatments are made available. Rates of individuals diagnosed with depression, for example, skyrocketed with the advent of SSRI antidepressants, mainly Prozac. Similarly, ADHD became all the rage in the 1980's -90's. Some classrooms had 10-20% of boys diagnosed with the disorder.

Currently, Autistic Spectrum Disorder is in the public eye. While it is important to recognize the population of individuals with this condition that has been underserved, it is also important to recognize that there has been a tendency to over diagnose, just as with Depression and ADHD. Psychiatric disorders, unlike other medical conditions, are not diagnosed based on precise medical assessments...blood work, radiological scans, etc. Rather, they are made on the basis of self-report, history, and behavioral signs, which can lead to less diagnostic precision.

When it comes to ASD though, one issue is that it is closer to sexuality or gender dysphoria in the sense of how people are wired being on a spectrum. It is a difference based on how far off of "normal" people are when it comes to affecting their behaviors and ability to learn the way a neurotypical person would learn.

The difference is that once you have a person at a certain level of ASD, they can't function to care for themselves and/or interact with people or in society without harm to themselves or others, and the deviation can lead to other issues that cause risks like epilepsy.

Personally, I believe that some of those kids in the 80s and 90s diagnosed as ADHD were more likely to have been autistic. I also think that they could find some of those who have hearing issues are less likely to be diagnosed as autistic because the hearing issues themselves, especially if minor, could hide many of the traits and common identifiable characteristics of autism.

 

[BirdinHand]

We’re not talking about the 1990s. We’re talking about the stratospheric increase from 2011-2022. This has nothing to do with a change in diagnostic criteria because it didn’t change. As noted previously, it’s either misdiagnosis of other conditions as autism or an increase in exposure to the cause(s) of autism.

Autism criteria were changed and INCLUDED what was previously Asperger’s in 2012.

Expansion of healthcare access also lead to an increase in diagnosis as individuals had access to healthcare in order to even GET a diagnosis. (For example, an autism diagnosis allowed individuals in ALL states to receive ABA therapy by 2019)


Public education and awareness campaigns launched in the same time frame led to people seeking a diagnosis so that their children who were otherwise diagnosed/didn’t have a diagnosis at all were now receiving services.


Education around and a reduction in disparity of services also led to an increase in diagnosis - especially in minorities and girls - both previously lagging in diagnosis.


You’re ignoring the massive shifts in healthcare access, public knowledge about autism, etc - seemingly on purpose - to arrive at the conclusion that there’s been a sudden increase in the number of people with autism.

The people have always been there - they just haven’t been diagnosed and had access to healthcare and resources

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is how a person’s brain is wired. One is either autistic or they are not. Period

 

[jaeger19]

We’re not talking about the 1990s. We’re talking about the stratospheric increase from 2011-2022. This has nothing to do with a change in diagnostic criteria because it didn’t change. As noted previously, it’s either misdiagnosis of other conditions as autism or an increase in exposure to the cause(s) of autism.

Or it could be more people being aware and making diagnosis . More parents wanting children tested etc.

It could also be a social issue that with movies like the ACCOUNTANT , shows like the “GOOD DOCTOR, have decreased the stigma surrounding autism and parents and family are more likley to accept testing and or open diagnosis of autism.

I can remember mentioning a diagnosis of autism on a severely disabling autistic child and mother getting upset that she didn’t want her child labeled a “ freak”.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Or it could be more people being aware and making diagnosis . More parents wanting children tested etc.

It could also be a social issue that with movies like the ACCOUNTANT , shows like the “GOOD DOCTOR, have decreased the stigma surrounding autism and parents and family are more likley to accept testing and or open diagnosis of autism.

I can remember mentioning a diagnosis of autism on a severely disabling autistic child and mother getting upset that she didn’t want her child labeled a “ freak”.

I really enjoyed The Good Doctor though the Accountant was just an action flick trying to disguise itself into a thoughtful movie.