“Rising ADHD and Autism Rates Reflect Education — Not a Crisis”
“The rise in diagnoses reflects a long-overdue recognition of neurodivergence — particularly among girls, women, and people of color who were historically overlooked — rather than a sudden explosion in neurodivergent individuals.”
The Make America Healthy Again Commission calls autism and ADHD “health burdens” whose rising rates of diagnosis “pose a dire threat to the American people and our way of life.” This alarmist rhetoric around neurodivergence — from President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and others in positions of tremendous power and influence — has set up a dangerous premise: that being autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent is a problem, and that higher diagnosis rates signal a crisis in need of drastic intervention.
In reality, there is no crisis.
The rise in diagnoses reflects a long-overdue recognition of neurodivergence — particularly among girls, women, and people of color who were historically overlooked — rather than a sudden explosion in neurodivergent individuals.
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Neurodivergence Overlooked: A Well-Documented Pattern
My own neurodivergence was overlooked for many years. As a child, the only label my brain was ever given was “gifted.” At the same time, I struggled with sensory overload, social exhaustion, and the inability to complete simple tasks despite excelling in areas that schools valued. Yet, like many high-achieving girls, my difficulties were attributed to personality quirks rather than neurological differences.
It wasn’t until adulthood, while seeking evaluations for my own children, that I saw myself in the screening questions and research, leading to my own diagnoses of ADHD and autism. Like many women, I only began to understand my brain after fighting for my children to be understood.
[Take This Free Screening Test: Autism in Women]
What Explains Rising Rates of ADHD and Autism?
At first glance, rising autism and ADHD diagnoses may seem like evidence of a true increase. But research points to three other drivers: changes in diagnostic criteria, greater awareness, and increased access to evaluations.
Decades ago, autism was largely understood in terms of its most visible and disabling presentations, meaning that countless individuals — especially women, people of color, and those with high-masking traits — were overlooked. Research shows, for instance, that autistic females often camouflage their autistic traits, leading to delayed or missed diagnoses.
Similarly, ADHD was historically viewed as a disorder affecting only young boys. We understand today that women with ADHD often exhibit internalized symptoms, such as inattentiveness and emotional dysregulation, which deviate from the hyperactive, disruptive stereotypes commonly associated with the condition.
Increasing awareness of neurodiversity in general has made many people more likely to recognize signs of autism and ADHD that may have gone unnoticed in previous generations. The availability of evaluations has expanded as well, making it somewhat easier to obtain a diagnosis. And since a formal diagnosis is often required to access educational accommodations or workplace protections, many individuals have a stronger incentive to pursue assessment than in the past.
It’s also possible that neurodivergence itself has increased slightly over time due to environmental or societal influences. Some researchers have investigated whether prenatal exposures — such as pollution, maternal stress, or certain medications — could play a role, though no consensus has emerged. Others speculate that modern life, with its increasing reliance on digital stimulation, structured schooling, and high cognitive demands, may be making traits associated with autism and ADHD more noticeable or challenging.
[Watch: An Open Conversation with Temple Grandin – Autism Expert, Author, and Scientist”]
However, there is no clear evidence that these conditions are becoming more biologically prevalent, only that we are finally recognizing and understanding them on a broader scale. It’s not that more people have suddenly become neurodivergent, but that more of those who were always neurodivergent are now being identified.
Celebration, Not Alarm
Some worry that broadened diagnostic criteria has blurred important distinctions, grouping together individuals with vastly different experiences and needs. They argue this could make it harder for neurodivergent people to secure the right support, especially if those with lower support needs are seen as “using up” resources meant for those with greater needs.
But from what I’ve seen, the opposite seems to be happening. The increase in diagnoses is driving greater awareness and acceptance of varied neurodivergent experiences and that, in turn, is fueling a more unified and politically powerful advocacy movement.
The fact that more people are receiving diagnoses should be cause for celebration, not alarm. It means that more of us are gaining access to self-understanding, accommodations, and community. Autistic adults who receive a formal diagnosis report higher self-esteem and overall psychological well-being, attributing their improved mental health to better self-understanding and acceptance. Many autistic adults describe their newfound understanding of their neurodivergent mind as transformative, giving them a greater sense of identity.
The rise in diagnoses is a sign that we are finally beginning to recognize and support the diversity of human minds. Rhetoric to the contrary reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of what is happening in the neurodiversity space, and threatens to roll back progress, reinforce stigma, and making it harder for people to seek the support they need.
The answer isn’t to reduce diagnoses by retreating to outdated ideas about neurological differences. The answer is to build a neurodiversity-affirming world — one where fewer people need a diagnosis just to be seen, heard, and supported.
ADHD and Autism: Next Steps
- Take our self-tests:
- Learn: How to get evaluated for autism as an adult
- Free Download: Bring this checklist to your autism evaluation
- Learn: Autism and ADHD in adults
- Understand: The auDHD experience
Charlotte Hill, Ph.D., is a policy analyst and neurodiversity educator in Oakland, California.
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