“Autism spectrum disorder spiked 175% among people in the U.S. from 2.3 per 1,000 in 2011 to 6.3 per 1,000 in 2022, researchers found. Diagnosis rates climbed at a faster rate among adults in their mid-20s to mid-30s in that period, according to a study published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open.”
Isn’t this because the spectrum was expanded? Bunch of people I can think of growing up that were probably autistic but at just called them “eccentric” or “a bit odd” but were overall functional and could live a normal life. Those people today would be considered autistic whereas before they weren’t. Like a level 1 could go unnoticed by just about everyone.
Anyways I also find a lot of young adults are proud (?) to be autistic and act like it’s a superpower. As the father to an autistic child, it really isn’t. But I’m glad you guys have self esteem