COINCIDING with the start of World Autism Awareness Month in Apr, Flinders University Prof of Psychology Robyn Young said, "many older Australians are now going online and finding ways to self-diagnose to negotiate the best support and health services but this could lead to a misdiagnosis".
"When I first started researching autism, the incidence was about one in 1,000 people and now has risen to around one in 60.
"While part of this is due to increased education and awareness, the criteria has also been broadened.
"And with funding often linked to the diagnosis, diagnoses are being sought to enable people to access services."
Young says it's unfortunate that services, including the NDIS, remain 'diagnosis driven', and as such leads to "money being spent on diagnoses rather than recognising the heterogeneity of the condition and the needs of the individual - irrespective of diagnosis".
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