USA psychology, 1970s vs today
I read something the other day that said something like 1 in 44 children today is somewhere "on the spectrum". Considering most children go through childhood never talking to a psychologist, it seems the diagnosis rate must be very high. Yikes Some folks like to blame childhood vaccines. As a person who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, things seem quite different to me in the world of psychology.
1970s: "My child is shy." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child is a picky eater." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child s really into his hobbies." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child is brilliant." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child lags academically." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child is hyper sometimes." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "I can't get my child away from her books." 2020s: Autism
Am I right? I get the feeling that any parent who brings their child into a psychologist today with any kind of issue is likely to walk out with an ASD diagnosis. My guess is that insurance is behind this, as an ASD diagnosis requires an insurance company to pay for services and gives the parents greater access to public services. A benefit to the parents, for sure, but are we really serving children well if we are slapping a diagnosis on 1 in every 44 kids?
1970s: "My child is shy." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child is a picky eater." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child s really into his hobbies." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child is brilliant." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child lags academically." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "My child is hyper sometimes." 2020s: Autism
1970s: "I can't get my child away from her books." 2020s: Autism
Am I right? I get the feeling that any parent who brings their child into a psychologist today with any kind of issue is likely to walk out with an ASD diagnosis. My guess is that insurance is behind this, as an ASD diagnosis requires an insurance company to pay for services and gives the parents greater access to public services. A benefit to the parents, for sure, but are we really serving children well if we are slapping a diagnosis on 1 in every 44 kids?
46-50, M
