Is the huge rise in autism diagnoses really good news? We’re not so sure | Letters

The article discusses the rise in autism diagnoses and whether it is truly good news. Professor Gina Rippon dismisses concerns about overdiagnosis and the medicalization of normal behavior, arguing that the increase in diagnoses means more children are receiving the help they need. However, the letter writers, Dr. Richard Hassall, Professor Philip Graham, and Dr. John Cromby, disagree with this interpretation. They argue that before the 1980s, children with autism-like symptoms were often diagnosed with other conditions, such as social anxiety, ADHD, or learning disabilities, and were still able to receive the necessary support. They also point out that the diagnosis of autism alone does not automatically indicate a specific intervention. The letter writers suggest that the rise in autism diagnoses may not be entirely positive and that the concerns about overdiagnosis and medicalization of behavior should not be dismissed too easily.