The Morning Poll: Do more children really have ADHD or are parenting standards just slipping?

A government-commissioned review in England highlights a significant rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses among young people, raising concerns about overdiagnosis. The report warns that over 4% of children aged six to 17 have been diagnosed with autism, far above expected rates of 1-2%, suggesting potential misdiagnoses. Experts also noted rising demand due to economic uncertainty and social media pressures, which may lead some parents to seek diagnoses for their children's common traits rather than addressing underlying issues directly.

The review calls for stricter regulation on private clinics conducting assessments for the National Health Service (NHS), as these providers are not consistently regulated or required to share detailed statistics. It is noted that spending on independent ADHD provision has surged by 252% over three years, with many turning to private services due to long NHS wait times.

The report also advises basing access to care primarily on a person’s needs rather than diagnosis to reduce lengthy waits for formal assessments and ensure timely, high-quality care. Professors at University College London (UCL) emphasize the importance of distinguishing between normal human variations in behavior and diagnosable conditions to prevent over-medicalization.