Autism By The Numbers Question

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Combination of broadened diagnostic criteria and changes in society that make it harder to function. The broaden diagnostic criteria has been massively discussed so I won't here .

Work and school activities are much more group oriented then 30 or 40 years ago.
Beck in the day when the school day was over aside from homework it was over. Kids went outside and played pickup games outside. These games were non structured, kids themselves figured and the games and the rules
If the kid was quiet/Autistic from 3 pm until bedtime with the exception of homework and dinner (usually the family was together for this) he or she could read or listen to music to de stress from the bullying until bed time.
Now there is more homework and constant structured activities and parents fear their kid being a pedophile victim if they go out by themselves (Youth crime is a lot less now but there are more mass and spectacular crimes now leading to the perception it is more unsafe). And when the kids do get time to themselves it is with computers gaming which is aural and visual stimulation and does not allow them to learn whatever body language they are able to.
Helicopter parenting. I have been to several ADULT support group meetings where the mothers attended. I can see accompanying the person on the subway or bus. I can see the parent sitting outside but let the YOUNG MAN try to interact with other adults by himself. If your a guy there are some topics you do not feel like discussing with mom sitting next to you. (One mother goes out to clubs with her son grrrr)
These trends are not good for people with executive function and sensory issues. I find it hard to believe that there are not a lot of people whose severity of Autism would have been functional then are not or less functional today even taking in the consideration no knowledge back then.

As for overdiagnoisis while there always is going to be people diagnosed who shouldn't be. I suspect the idea that it is a important or main cause of increased diagnosis are organizations that stand to lose a lot of money by paying support and benefits and professionals that never believed in the Autism Spectrum in the first place. How real the widespread overdiagnosis is, is almost not important at this time. What is important that it has become conventional wisdom even within large sections of ASD community. This is not good in a lot of ways. Legitimate autistics are dealing fear of if not actual invalidation, this is leading to suspicion, scapegoating/group shaming (people who identify Aspie, people at the self diagnosis point in their search etc). Look at how many threads lately we have had of people who are doubting their professional diagnosis. The explanation offered is Aspie skepticism. That is and always will be a factor. When you add to that reading on a "support" sites belief in widespread overdiagnosis the result is heartbreaking. lf it is not occurring already at some point under diagnosis will start occurring, Maybe most importantly we are using our "spoons"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_theory on this instead of something more positive.

Obsession with developmental milestones + early intervention to enforce a common path of development probably drives diagnosis of autism, since autism diagnosis provides the most/best services in childhood.

Yes, I think there is greater emphasis on being normal as the only path to a happy life.
I don't know if it comes from the whole parenting industry or the schools or what, but it sucks.

It surely comes from the development of worklife as it is today.
The qualities in demand: Speed, multitasking, frequent shifts and increased social demands are not aspie-friendly.
The ones, thatbest meet these demands are the so called normal.
The harder it is to get by, the more normal the ideal.

I don't think the numbers are increasing, but how you cast your net.

I started school in 1969. Any kid on the low end was shunted of to a state home for the ret*d. That was a catch basin for anyone from CP, to Downs Syndrome to I don't know what the hell you got, but you "aren't  quite right."

In the middle 70's special education was just coming around, and it was more for the deaf, blind and physically handicapped.

Around the 1980's anyone with an Austim diagnosis was fairly low functioning and diagnosed as a child.

1990's was the boom of heavy diagnosis for everything-Aspergers, ADHD to the kitchen sink. And an adult still couldn't be diagnosed with Autism.

ASD people have always been around. That loner dad, who barely interacted with his family. You worked your manufacturing job, came home and chilled. You worked your job where you had a very narrow skill set. There was no fabulous multitasking back them. You didn't have to do all the social stuff now required of parents. Your wife didn't expect you to truly help out in the house, and do homework with the kids. Almost all the dad's in the 1970's were like that where I lived.

Society changed. The social norms changed. Jobs changed.

How many here could handle this which is what my dad did:

-work the same job, with no surprises for 30 years. Go in, do your thing, go home. Co workers didn't  say much, and didn't really care if you were BFF. And you made about $25/hr.

-Your wife did all the domestic work. You didn't worry about clothes being washed, dinner, dishes none of it. You had very specific roles.

-You loved your kids, but you didn't have to hover, fight with the school, bond with other parents over soccer or gymnastics . You might do things like Scouts or sports, but it wasn't required.

-Men had down time. You could do your special interest to unwind, and no one really bitched. Your kids didn't need 24/7 entertainment and your wife would go out with her friends. You may or may not have buddies over.

See how different everything is? See how expectations are different? I'm sure many ASD men "passed as normal" back then.

Then the rules change, some people take the hit. My husband would have fuctioned wonderfully as a dad during the 1970's. Now with everyone having to be the über cheerful, social, multitasking, extrovert faster rat, he's sunk.

I think Autism diagnosis is in a state of flux. I believe there will be more fine tuning of diagnosis, especially since the DSM has add items like sensory processing disorder.

My two pennies of thought....

Beautifully stated.

In the 1970s, there was a push to get rid of institutionalization. It was both good and bad. There were lots of people who didn't need to be in an institution, but we really opened the floodgates and downsized the infrastructure. Now, people who should be in an institution can't find one because the state hardly operates any or keeps them set up for long-term care.

For all the BS about "diversity," society really only accommodates a few "diverse" types...the rest can either learn to conform or rot.

Beautifully stated.

In the 1970s, there was a push to get rid of institutionalization. It was both good and bad. There were lots of people who didn't need to be in an institution, but we really opened the floodgates and downsized the infrastructure. Now, people who should be in an institution can't find one because the state hardly operates any or keeps them set up for long-term care.

For all the BS about "diversity," society really only accommodates a few "diverse" types...the rest can either learn to conform or rot.