Reason why so many kids are being diagnosed with ADHD and autism

The number of children being diagnosed with ADHD and autism is rising around the world, leading people to question whether neurodiversity is increasing or if we’re just getting better at recognising it.

The UK Government published an independent review last month looking into this topic and seeking to understand what is changing and why demand for services and medication has increased.

Sky News reports that in January, the UK recorded the largest increase in ADHD drug use across Europe, while in the past five to ten years, autism diagnoses in the UK have increased significantly, with a 787% rise reported between 1998 and 2018, as per Priory Group.

ADHD.

The new report, which also looks at common mental health conditions, is an interim report, rather than the government’s final conclusions.

In short, an independent team was asked to investigate why so many more people are seeking help, why waiting lists have become so long, whether current services are meeting people's needs and what changes might improve support.

The report found that while diagnoses of ADHD and autism have risen, surveys found 'no evidence of a dramatic population-level increase' (Getty Stock Image)

Autism and ADHD explained

ADHD, which is an acronym for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a condition where the brain works differently to most people.

As per the NHS, children and young people with ADHD may have trouble with things like concentrating and sitting still.

Although it can manifest differently for different people, symptoms of the neurological condition often involve your ability to pay attention to things, having high energy levels (being hyperactive), and your ability to control your impulses.

Autism, on the other hand, is a difference in how your brain develops that affects how you see and experience the world.

Autistic children may start to speak at a later age than other children, take longer to understand what others are saying, and not respond to their name.

The NHS outlines that parents should also look out for their little ones focusing intensely on things that interest them, and talking a lot about them, as well as talking at other people without listening or responding.

However, autistic 'traits' have been known to vary from person to person, and research into other possible signs of the condition is ongoing, as it’s been understudied in the past.

Autism and ADHD have been historically under researched (Getty Stock Image)

What does the Government report say?

The independent review paints a ‘complex picture,’ as it found that while doctors are diagnosing more people with autism and ADHD, surveys of the whole country indicate that the number of people with autism has actually not changed much.

Yes, referrals, waiting lists for assessment and recorded diagnoses have increased substantially, but at the same time, the best available population surveys - which do not rely on referral, assessment or diagnosis - suggest that underlying prevalence of symptoms has been far more stable, with ‘no evidence of a dramatic population-level increase over recent decades’.

The report outlines: “This does not imply that one set of trends is ‘real’ and the other is not.

“The evidence points to a more complex picture in which relatively stable underlying prevalence can coexist with rapidly rising diagnosis, referral and service demand.”

It's prompted questions over whether the current system relies too heavily on diagnosis before people can access help (Getty Stock Image)

Why are diagnoses rising?

The reason that recorded diagnoses have increased is because multiple things are happening at once, rather than there being one simple, easy explanation.

Changes like a better recognition of groups who were previously missed, such as women and adults, and more people seeking assessment because awareness has increased could be contributing to the surge.

There have also been changes in how clinicians recognise and diagnose ADHD and autism, and pressures within education, healthcare and benefits systems that can make a diagnosis important for getting help and support.

For example, children might need a diagnosis before they can get educational support at school, while adults might need one for workplace adjustments.

While this is an important first step, more research and analysis is due to take place, before recommendations will be made in the final report.