Why is there so much autism now?
Published 5 October 2024. Written by Leeds Autism Practice Staff.
It is common for people to say "There was no autism when I was young but now everyone has it." This is not true. But we are seeing higher rates of identification. Let's explore why.
More awareness
People are more aware and more knowledgeable about autism these days. Because individuals, parents, teachers, medical professionals and others are now better educated on autism, they can spot the signs and refer for assessment.
Better understanding
We understand much more about neurodiversity than we did before. Previously, autistic individuals may have been misdiagnosed with a range of conditions. Autism was originally created as an alternative to schizophrenia.
More acceptance
Autism was previously considered a disability but modern views of neurodiversity see it as a difference and have done much to reduce the social stigma around it. As a result, many people feel they can be more open about being autistic and engage in less masking.
More support
Many schools and workplaces now provide accommodations and supports for autistic individuals. Therefore, people are more likely to seek an official identification to access these supports.
Wider criteria
Prior to 2013, autism had a stricter diagnostic criteria. As understanding of neurodiversity expanded, the criteria was redefined to focus on social communication and fixed or repetitive behaviour. As a result, more people qualify.
Better understanding of autism in women and girls
Autism was originally considered to be something that only affected boys. As time has gone on, we have developed a better understanding of how autism presents in women and girls. Women and girls often mask more than men and boys, and greater awareness of this has helped us identify individuals who would previously have been missed.
Conclusion
Many more people are being identified as autistic than have previously been. This is not due to autism rates increasing, but rather a rise in individuals seeking assessments and our improved ability to identify autism.