Is Autism a lot more common nowadays or is it just discussed more?

If you know that many people with autism then perhaps you should learn a bit about it.

Autistic behaviours were always there, its just that people with severe autism were thrown in a home and ignored and those with moderate or mild autism remained in the community and either had to survive or struggled.

Its a communication disorder that is usually genetically transmitted. It tends to run in families, including my own. There were older people I know, now passed, who were very definitely autistic but they weren't labelled because the condition was only recognised in the 1940s, 1950s and its really only since the 1970s and 1980s that there has been any form of regular diagnosis of people who have mild to moderate autism. And people who have it struggle, regardless of the grade of autism they have.

The original IQ tests were developed when mandatory education was introduced in France. And clearly nobody was diagnosed with a low IQ before IQ tests were developed. But people still had intellectual impairments. Similarly as the autism diagnostic tools have become more sophisticated, more people are being diagnosed. And because of those diagnoses they are being helped. Its the assistance which is the most important thing. These days, without a diagnosis, you won't get the assistance you need. There is no flexibility within the educational system. And there is no flexibility outside the educational system either - you need a Leaving Cert for pretty much everything these days. No more leaving school at 12 and working in a shop or in a factory.

up to a few years ago the term Aspergers was used for people who struggled mostly with relationships and were socially awkward ,who generally were self sufficient but just struggled at life,that term is no longer used so everyone is now on the Autism spectrum where the range of challenges for individuals is massive.In my 60s now,when growing up there was about 25 kids on our block and clos to a hundred on the road and never remember anyone affected by autism back then.It does seem to be much more prevalent nowadays.

You should know better. I have a son with autism and most outside our family wouldn’t be really aware. He can hide it. But we are very aware based on his behavior and the damage to our home over the years, especially in times of stress, the difficulty getting him to and through school, basic things like buying clothes and getting him to actually try them. Clothes that cannot have particular seams. But here you are deciding that all other diagnoses were of no value based on your own circumstances. You haven’t a notion what goes on in other peoples homes.

The rise in numbers can be directly linked to the easing of criteria for a diagnoses. Its not a mystery.

I agree to an extent. My issue is with the system. True autism have a look at this. Little johnny or jenny wanting all of their red crayons in a different pencil case isnt it.

https://youtu.be/l_nhwLGkC5Y

The problem now is that there are too many "experts" who are creating a big cashcow for themselves.

The only difference between now and 50 years ago is that every tom, dick and harry is being funnelled through some university where they have to create some kind of income for themselves afterwards.

It’s an interesting question OP. I am a believer that there is more then one thing causing the increase

Friend of mine works in a psychiatric facility where most of residents are now quite elderly and have been institutionalised for practically their whole lives. Friend was saying if those patients were born today then most would be considered to be on autism spectrum. So one part of answer is that many were excluded from society in the past.

Then the diagnostic criteria were changed some would argue wrongly. However, there are adults out there who had a tough time in school and are now struggling with things like holding down jobs, relationships, managing day to day life etc that would meet the diagnostic criteria if they were kids today.

Life has changed dramatically in last 50 years. We have become more urban, life is nosier, light pollution which would all contribute to sensory overstimulation for many in the spectrum. Then add in dietary changes, environmental damage and pollution and what effect is that having on us at a genetic level.

Some of the opinions on here about the spectrum are horrific. We were privately assessed by multi functional team and the correct label is probably Asperger's which you aren't allowed use anymore.

However, this 'mild' diagnosis doesn't describe very academic and verbal whilst eating clothes and other things, not being able to toilet adequately at 10, special subjects alienating others and general agoraphobia. On top of constant arguing and rare physical aggression.

It's a hell of a trip even on the mild end, and we adhere to the temple grandin style where it's not an excuse for bad behaviour. It's such a hard road for any autistic parent, and worse for those at the toughest end of the scale.

That's true. But in the same way many people now are just odd and strange, not necessarily autistic.

So if someone has mild to moderate autism they shouldn’t admit it, talk about it or receive help? Just struggle on and fail miserably in their early years and have no future because they’re not bad enough to need round the clock 24hr care.

seems like a great idea 👍

Discussed more, definitely. Same as a lot of mental health issues, such as ADHD, OCD and the depression (especially depression).

It's also the fact that a huge number are slightly autisitic but not to the extent that it massively effects their daily lives. But identifying this and discussing it makes it a lot easier to navigate life on a day-to-day basis.

It's a system that works out for the schools. Get a few kids diagnosed in order to bring in more special teachers and assistants, makes life easier for the teachers already there. So you end up with a classroom of 20 kids and a bunch of them will be diagnosed with a condition that's supposed to have a 1-in-3000 or lower incidence rate. Any kid who is a bit out of the ordinary will be under the microscope until they can throw a diagnosis at him/her.

It's still a big improvement on the system they had long ago where the awkward kids would be bate silly till they did what was expected and if that didn't work the teacher would go home to bate his wife out of frustration