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Why are ADHD and autism diagnoses increasing in the UK?

head with adhd written in it

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels


​(Grab a cuppa, settle in, and let’s unpack what’s really going on — numbers, real‑life stories and all.)


1. First, the headline numbers

  • Autism referrals are at an all‑time high. By December 2024, almost 213,000 people in England were waiting for an autism assessment, and nine in ten had already been on the list for at least 13 weeks. NHS England Digital

  • Prescriptions mirror rising ADHD diagnoses. GP surgeries issued about 870 000 ADHD‑medication items in just the last quarter of 2024 — up 8 % on the previous quarter. Pulse Today

  • Record numbers are actually getting treated. Nearly 278,000 patients were prescribed ADHD stimulants between April 2023 and March 2024, an 18 % jump year‑on‑year. The Guardian

  • School data paints the same picture. Autism is now the single most common reason for an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP); 4.8 % of all pupils have an EHCP, and autistic spectrum disorder tops the list of needs. Explore Education Statistics

  • Looking further back, autism diagnoses grew a staggering 787 % between 1998 and 2018. The Guardian

  • Adult ADHD has exploded too — the ADHD Foundation reports a 400 % rise in adults seeking assessment since 2020. The Week​

“When my son Jack finally got his autism diagnosis last year, the clinic said they were seeing double the referrals they had before the pandemic,” — Maria, mum of a 10‑year‑old from Birmingham

2. So why the surge? Six overlapping reasons:

What’s changed

How it fuels higher diagnosis rates

Better awareness & less stigma

Schools, GP surgeries and social media campaigns make traits recognisable earlier. Adults who “masked” for decades now spot themselves in online check‑lists.

Broader diagnostic criteria

The move to a spectrum model (and folding Asperger syndrome into autism) naturally catches more people whose profiles were once deemed “sub‑threshold.”

Gate‑keeping of support

An official label unlocks EHCPs, disability living allowance, exam adjustments and workplace accommodations. Families and schools pursue diagnosis so children don’t miss out.

New assessment tools & routes

Digital add‑ons like QbTest (green‑lit by NICE in 2024) speed up ADHD screening, while private and tele‑health clinics absorb overflow from the NHS. 

COVID‑19 spotlighted neurodiversity

Home‑schooling revealed attention or sensory struggles that classrooms had masked, and long waiting lists turned into headline news.

Possible environmental & social shifts (still debated)

Premature birth survival, urban pollution, and ever‑earlier screen use are under study. They may not change true prevalence much, but they heighten traits that trigger referrals.

3. Is it “real” prevalence or just better detection?


Most researchers agree true prevalence hasn’t jumped as precipitously as the diagnosis charts suggest. Rather, we’re unearthing needs that were always there — especially in girls, women, ethnic‑minority families and quieter kids who slipped under the radar. That doesn’t mean every new label is perfect (there’s lively debate about over‑pathologising ordinary struggles), but it does mean fewer children and adults are left battling alone.



4. The elephant in the room — waiting lists


Those soaring referral numbers aren’t matched by service capacity. In December 2024:

Families often turn to private assessments out of desperation. Remember: whether you go NHS or private, make sure the clinician is registered and the report meets local authority and NICE standards.



5. What this means for you and your child

  1. Trust your instincts. If you’re here, you probably already know something’s up.

  2. Document everyday life — short videos, teacher emails, sleep logs — to speed assessments.

  3. Seek support now, label or not. Occupational‑therapy strategies, parent‑training courses and school adjustments don’t require a formal diagnosis to start having impact.

  4. Connect with others. Online forums and local SEND parent groups can shrink those lonely nights at 2 a.m.


“The diagnosis didn’t change who Mia is — it changed how her world responds to her.” — Sam, mum of an autistic/ADHD teen

6. Bottom line


The spike in ADHD and autism numbers isn’t a fad — it’s a mix of finally seeing the kids (and adults) who were always there, plus genuine system incentives and pandemic‑era spotlights. Whatever the statistics, your child’s experience is unique. Labels are tools, not verdicts. Use them to open doors to understanding, support and a future where neurodiversity is seen as part of the rich human spectrum.



(If this post resonated, share it with another parent sitting in that waiting‑list limbo. We’re stronger together.)



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