Why Do So Many People Have Autism Now?

Current data from the CDC states that autism prevalence is estimated to be about 1 in 36. Many people are wondering why there are so many people who have autism now. In this video, I'll address that question.

Happy World Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day!

#worldautismawarenessday #worldautismday #worldautismacceptanceday

[stevejames]

Misdiagnosis in the past make it seem as though there is a huge increase in cases but possibly they were there all along. I was finally, after 15 years of misdiagnosis, correctly assessed and I was 56 at the time.

[Catlily]

It makes sense that autism numbers jumped when they added PDD-NOS and Asperger's into what is considered autism.

[GPKatai]

Not to mention sometimes other disorders hide it. Like ADHD can hide it

[JonBrase]

Good to see another video from you. I was first starting to seriously research autism around the time your posting frequency fell off, now have my formal diagnosis.

[Jaichbinhier]

"It's because everyone is trying to be like Stephannie, because she's so cool." 😌





It's really interesting to learn how sometimes problems aren't new,
They are just labeled and treated differently over time, so they don't seem like old issues.
It's like if all forms of pizza were officially reclassified as "pie" marketed
And suddenly all of the national pie consumption statistics skyrocketed;
Or if the number of pizza toppings and its total size used to be significant for
Labeling its health effects, and then one day the powers that be declared that no more
To be accurate, that it's an all-or-nothing situation, so a "personal pan pizza"
No longer got designated into a separate food category... yet it is practically a
Different eating experience to have a small cheese pizza
Compared to a six-topping family-size one, assuming you eat the
Whole thing by yourself [which isn't always a fair assumption,
Explaining why they might reclassify the statistics criteria in this hypothetical situation].


Thank you for doing your part to help clear up misunderstandings and spread to us
Accurate awareness of the Autism spectrum and various related issues and such. 🙂


(I hope you and yours had a Happy Resurrection Day and a safe April Fool's! 🥳🥳🥳)

[Catlily]

I lived in a group home in 2000. Depending on the group home you could be out in the community a lot. I rode the bus most days of the week and went shopping for example. But in some group homes people don't get out much. So I would say that it varies on how visible disabled people were and are to the community.

[celinahuezo]

I think cause they realized girls have it too.

[j.b.]

Just found out. Always had it. (80’s baby.)

[chrismaxwell]

Well judging by the amount of late diagnosis the we see. So this shows that many slipped through the cracks. Which matches the the changes from in the DSM from a very narrow definition of autism to a much wider spectrum and including diagnosis like Asperger's well. I should just listened you pointed it out.

Another thing is Autism genetic. Increasing population means more cases. I expect there would be an increase. I'd be surprised to see it say flat or decrease.

[amandamandamands]

I think about my autism being missed sometimes and then I look at what the knowledge level was at the time. I should have graduated high school in 1990 (dropped out in year 11) and Asperger's wasn't in the DSM until 1994. Add to that that when I was going through school people were only evaluated for anything if they thought they needed to go to special ed. This means that a whole range of people had their differences missed and were just told off in the classroom that they weren't trying hard enough, weren't paying attention etc.

[whitneymason]

My son was diagnosed autistic first and then I got my diagnosis 3 years later! We did genetic testing and we found that both my son and I have a gene mutation of unknown significance.

[NotAyFox]

I like how your videos are often very carefully researched and science based, which is difficult in an of itself because most research on autism is targeted towards early detection with intent on rehabilitation, or worse, prevention, even though it's been shown time and time again that autism is inheritable and stable lifelong condition/divergence.

[steffy]

I was born in the early-mid 2000s. My mom figured I was autistic when I was 2, but didn't want to get me assessed due to stigma. When I was in middle school, I heard the term autism for the first time. I asked my parents what was autism and when they described it as "being in your own world", I asked if I am in my own world, would I be considered autistic. I only got assessed and confirmed autistic recently, but I was still autistic at 2 or in middle school and for my whole life

[gigahorse]

Your channel is underrated! It’s way more research-based and balanced than the majority of autism related channels, which tend to be experience-based or explaining common talking points without citing research (which is ok, but I prefer research)!

[TricksterModeEngaged]

Thank you for doing this video. On the one hand, I understand not everyone has the same info/access to information, but on the other it is still a bit irritating to see this isn't better/more widely understood when the information IS out there and has been for some time. I mean just the fact that they revised the DSM categories in a way that combined what had been considered several different diagnoses into a single condition (ASD) is going to have an obvious impact on the numbers. Personally, I'm glad that we do better screening and are better able to identify autism in kids who are maybe at the less obvious end of the spectrum but still have some ASD-typical challenges. Even if someone has low support needs, there's a huge difference between being able to get by without support (while never understanding why things that come naturally to everyone else require so much effort from you) and having the supports/understanding you need to actually thrive. (signed, a very tired 34 year old who once failed out of a health care program in the final semester despite being an honors student until then. Turns out I have excellent technical skills, but the bedside manner of a department store mannequin. If I had known then what I knew now, I'd have saved myself several years of wasted time and stress)

[glaceRaven]

ngl every time I hear takes like the ones you quoted, it makes me want to rub my hands together with a sinister expression and say "Yeees, it's all part of our plan for world domination!" and do an evil laugh. The reason I don't is because I feel like the sarcasm might fly over their heads 😅

[kimberlyrodriguez]

Thanks for the informative video. As a Hispanic female I can personally vouch for the lack of awareness or understanding in our culture.
I'd struggled all my life but didn't know I was Autistic until I did my own research. My family always brushed off my issue as me being "dramatic" or "childish" my whole life instead of realizing I was Autistic. Even to this day there's not nearly as much awareness or understanding of Autism as there should be...

[keithgeorge]

As a grandfather with 3 ASD grandchildren and other family members with traits, as well as myself, I asked this question myself and your video has answered that. Thank you.

[hcm]

We are equally autistic.
It is just that some are more equal than others.

[longline]

Also, people weren't gay in the 1940s, or in ancient Rome. It's new...