Overdiagnosis is not a problem, but misdiagnosis may be as people are driven into the private sector by long waits, and sadly, missed diagnoses remain common —Tamsin Ford

Experts are warning that far from being over-diagnosed, people with ADHD are waiting too long for assessment, support and treatment.

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

This will mean far fewer children are diagnosed with disabilities, but those who genuinely have a disability

You're going to have to elaborate on what a genuine disability is there chief. Let me help you out:

lead poisoning.
microplastics
plastics in general
glyphosate (round up)
air pollution
mosquito spraying
etc.

[–] JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You’re going to have to elaborate on what a genuine disability is there chief. Let me help you out:

The UK Equality Act defines a person disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

I believe all of those things you listed were much worse in the 70s (with the potential exception of microplastics) when disability rates were much lower. There is no proof that microplastics are causing autism and ADHD (and a thousand other disabilities). What has changed is diagnostic criteria. In the UK they have become much looser.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I believe all of those things you listed were much worse in the 70s

Who are the current young people's parents? Do you think any adverse effects are biologically inherited?

[–] JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 0 points 6 days ago

There is no evidence that lead poisoning, for example, can be inherited. There is some research that certain epigenetic changes can be inherited. The context is sometimes war and famine. But that is 2-4 degrees of abstraction away from your question, and we are many decades away from any kind of causative conclusion to that.

If I were to steelman your position, I think there are simpler changes to point to as potential causes here. Social media. Screen time. Time spent outside and exercising. Obesity. Time spent socialising. The new "permissive" method of parenting and teaching.

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

All of those things are at lower levels than the 1970s.

[–] The_Decryptor@aussie.zone 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

There's less microplastics now than in the 70s?

[–] ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Yes.