- Autism diagnoses in children have increased nearly fivefold in the U.S. from 2000 to 2022, with adult diagnoses also rising rapidly.
- Much of the growth is attributed to milder forms of autism, characterized by normal to high IQ and typical speech but social struggles, while severe autism cases have slightly decreased.
- Experts express concern about overdiagnosis, suggesting some individuals may have anxiety, other mental illnesses, or no diagnosable condition, leading to potential harm for both misdiagnosed and severely autistic people.
- Diagnosis challenges include reliance on subjective accounts, lack of biological tests, and inconsistencies across clinics, with up to half of children and 20% of adults possibly misdiagnosed.
- Healthcare system constraints, unclear diagnostic criteria, and increased demand for autism labels contribute to diagnostic inaccuracies, with social media promoting self-identification through viral but often inaccurate content.
- While accurate mild autism diagnoses can provide benefits like self-understanding, accommodations, and community support, incorrect diagnoses may lead to unnecessary therapies, untreated conditions, and self-limiting behaviors.
- Overdiagnosis risks diluting research on autism causes and treatments, and may crowd out resources and services for those with severe autism, highlighting the need for differentiated diagnostic categories and tailored support.