Do you think Autism is overdiagnosed?

Question

I think it is. They went from saying 1 in 1000 or so have Autism to claiming 1 in 150 have Autism. That doesn't seem right to me. Yes, I know there's advancements in medicine and things like that but I still don't buy it. What do you think?

Answer 1

In fact it is UNDER DIAGNOSED if you truly and honestly think about it. As I was going to school in the 60's and 70's, students were then MISLABELED as slow learners or Type "A" students. In fact, these students were Autistic because they carry some of the same characteristics and traits as my twins daughters which have Autism. Also, this is a new area of study in which more and more research and doctors are getting involved in this area. Also, kind in mind that there are many different LEVELS of Autism. AS for my twins for example, one carries herself pretty good in a so called normal classroom environment. She can carry on a conversation with you. Now as for her twin, she is in a special school for Autistic students. Her communication skills are nothing near her sisters.

Answer 2

I think autism is better understood than previously.  As a result, more people fall onto the autistic spectrum.  If you look at d'xed schizophrenic and mentally retarded over the last 2 decades, those numbers have declined in almost exact proportion to the increase in autistic spectrum diagnoses.

In other words, same number of people with varying conditions, only the labels have moved around somewhat substantially.

Answer 3

I only wish it were.  I am 42 with full memory of my childhood.  Children did not act like they do now.  We did not have hyperactivity or anything like that.  We did have some children with problems, but it was so very rare.  Today, every time I go to my childrens' school the kids are all over the place, hyper, out-of-control, not even able to pay attention, so clumsy they fall often, run into things, impulsive, speech problems, its a mess.  Its so sad to see the teachers struggling with all these kids who are struggling.  We have a giant problem on our hands.  In my neighborhood, many children are so disabled with these type of symptoms, that many get sent away or put on numerous pscyh meds.  We really have a big problem on our hands.

Answer 4

  It used to be the case only a few decades ago that only a small group of medical professionals knew what autism was and how to diagnose it, whereas now a lot more know what to look for and can spot the signs and refer a child for diagnosis at a young age. It's also the case that professionals can spot the more subtle signs, so a child doesn't have to be on the extreme low-functioning end of the spectrum in order for anyone to notice there's something going on. There are many adults on the autism spectrum who, as children, were misdiagnosed with things like schizophrenia and mental retardation. That's a lot less likely to happen these days. Increasing rates of diagnosis are happening in this day & age for many, many medical issues, not just autism. My mother in law was just saying today that when she went to school there was only one asthmatic that she knew of in the whole school. Nowadays there seems to be a helluva lot more kids with asthma. I think it has a lot to do with the changing attitudes and discoveries of the medical community as well as massive changes to the environment we live in, the foods we eat and the toxins we are exposed to every day. It just isn't the same world it used to be.

Answer 5

Maybe somewhat - but the biggest reason for the stats increasing 7 fold is the UNDERdiagnosis of the past and the change in the diagnostic criteria.

At least two things are at work here.

First, autism was UNDERdiagnosed in the past.  They 'classic' form of autism was frequently classified as mentally retarded or brain damaged.  

Secondly, before the mid 80's  "Asperger's syndrome" was a phrase hardly ever even heard even among medical & educational services.  Dr Asperger's works were just put on a shelf & not even translated until late 70s, early 80's.  Even then, this was considered to be a separate condition, not included in the old autism stats.  The diagnositic criteria for Autism was not broadened to include Aspergers until late 1980's.

ALSO - Autism used to be blamed on the mother, therefore people weren't fighting to get their child diagnosed with autism.  Now you do.  Many will deny it, but I have sat in several support groups & asked how difficult it was to get their child diagnosed.  And almost 100% of the time, people said they went from Dr to Dr until they got the child diagnosed!

ALSO - there DOES appear to be an increase in autism rates, even taking into consideration the factors above.  But not as big of an increase as they hype suggests.  Still - a doubling of the rate of autism cases is still very significant.

Answer 6

It's underdiagnosed.  All viviparous beings are necessarily somewhere on the autistic spectrum.  All newborns are totally autistic, and all humans have a least a residue of infantile autism in their personalities.  Why do you think doctors--except quack DAN doctors-- never diagnose autism in children under three.  

Anyway, see if you have any autistic symptoms yourself:  

Are you unable to maintain eye contact if you are lying about something?  Does anxiety or embarrassment or shock ever render you tongue-tied? Do you fidget when you're nervous?  Do you ever take comfort in repetitive rituals, as in church?  Do you wish to be left alone when you are ill?  

If you answered yes to any of the above, you are on the autistic spectrum.

Answer 7

I think that the change in statistics is mostly due to the fact that autism was underdiagnosed for a long time. Now that professionals know more about autism spectrum disorders than they used to, and now that this knowledge is more easily available to the public, autistic traits are being recognized more and autistic individuals are being diagnosed and getting treatment.

Of course there are always some cases where individuals are misdiagnosed. Some individuals who don't really have autism have been given that diagnosis, but on the other hand there is still a lot of undiagnosed autistics out there, especially individuals with mild forms of autism.

I'd say the current statistics are closer to accurate than the old statistics.