Concerns regarding the overdiagnosis of autism and the medicalization of normal behavior are addressed, highlighting the large increase in diagnosis rates since 1998. Other available diagnoses for children needing help were often overlooked. The autism diagnosis does not specify any intervention and serves as a descriptive term rather than a clear explanation of behaviors. The variability in symptoms among individuals diagnosed indicates the complexity of understanding autism rather than merely reflecting human diversity.
Rippon correctly observes the astonishingly large increase in autism diagnosis rates since 1998. However, she overlooks that other diagnoses were available for children needing help, like social anxiety and ADHD. It is well known that autism diagnosis alone does not indicate a specific kind of intervention, as it is merely descriptive.
The current soaring rates of diagnosis might not explain behaviors of those diagnosed with autism, as the criteria encompass a variety of symptoms that may not align. When diagnosing autism, individuals can show behaviors that are vastly different from one another, emphasizing the complexity of understanding the condition.
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