Summary
There has been a lot of talk about ADHD, Autism and mental health conditions being over-diagnosed, especially since Wes Streeting ordered a Neurodiversity review into rising numbers in children and adults. The reality behind the headlines is very different. The review is expected to show that the rise in diagnoses comes from better understanding, earlier recognition, and more people finally being seen after years of being overlooked. This article explains what the review is really about, why awareness has grown so quickly and what it means for families.
You’ve probably heard a lot of noise recently about Wes Streeting ordering a review into rising diagnoses of ADHD, Autism and other neurodivergent conditions. As someone with a personal stake in this, I thought I’d take a deeper look into it. The headlines have been dramatic and many parents are understandably worried. The question is, is the government suggesting that our children are being over-diagnosed? Are families going to face even more barriers to support?ople
What is the review into ADHD and Autism actually about
This neurodiversity review that has been commissioned is not a judgement that children are being labelled too quickly. It is an attempt to understand why more people are coming forward for help and why NHS services are struggling to keep up. Many newspapers have framed this as a hunt for inflated diagnoses, but that is not what the actual terms of the review say.
The review itself is far more balanced. It is designed to understand why demand has increased, how services are coping and whether families are getting the support they need. It is not a statement that children are being diagnosed incorrectly. It is mainly an attempt to look at a system that is under huge pressure and figure out why.
Are children really being over-diagnosed with ADHD and Autism
The review that has been commissioned is not a judgement that children are being labelled too quickly. It is an attempt to understand why more people are coming forward for help and why NHS services are struggling to keep up. Many newspapers have framed this as a hunt for inflated diagnoses, but that is not what the actual terms of the review say.
In reality, the rise in diagnoses is much more likely to reflect something positive. We understand neurodiversity much better than we ever have. The science has come on in leaps and bounds in just the last five years. Parents, teachers and health professionals are spotting traits earlier. Many adults who grew up feeling different are now realising they were never broken or lazy. They were autistic or ADHD all along but missed by a system that only recognised the most obvious cases. Awareness has widened the picture and more families finally feel seen.
Why diagnoses are rising in children today
There are several reasons why more children are receiving diagnoses now than in the past. Most of them are positive signs of progress. They are:
Greater awareness among parents
Parents understand ADHD and Autism better. They know the signs and when to seek support. This naturally increases referrals.
Improved understanding of Autism and ADHD in girls
Parents understand ADHD and Autism better. They know the signs and when to seek support. This naturally increases referrals.
Better recognition of masking and quieter traits
Children who do not disrupt the classroom used to slip through unnoticed. They are now being seen and understood. These children were always neurodivergent. The system simply missed them.
Is there evidence of over-diagnosis in the UK
There is little strong evidence that overdiagnosis is a widespread problem. What we do see is the opposite. Assessments are slow. Many families wait more than a year. Some children never receive a diagnosis even though they meet the criteria. Services are stretched and inconsistent across the country.
If overdiagnosis was common, we would not see long queues for assessments or thousands of families desperately trying to get their child seen.
What the neurodiversity review is most likely to find
Based on the research already available, the review is more likely to highlight:
- Long and unequal waiting times
- Gaps in early support for families
- Huge regional differences in assessment quality
- A rise in awareness rather than a rise in inaccurate diagnoses
- Delayed recognition in many children, not premature labelling
It may also call for better training, clearer pathways and improved access to help after a diagnosis. Nothing so far suggests the review will claim children are being diagnosed too easily.
What parents should know and why this matters for children
The most important message is that your child’s lived experience does not change because politicians are debating diagnosis rates and calling for a neurodiversity review. A diagnosis reflects traits and challenges that have been seen, measured and documented. It does not appear suddenly because of a trend.
The rise in diagnoses reflects a better understanding of neurodiversity. It reflects children who would once have been misunderstood. Many adults are also discovering their own neurodivergence and recognising similar traits in their children. This is not a wave of false labels. It is improved recognition.
My final thoughts: Neurodiversity is better understood, not over-diagnosed
Children today are not being flooded with incorrect diagnoses. They are being recognised for who they really are. Awareness has grown. Knowledge has improved. More families feel seen and understood.
This neurodiversity review may help improve services and cut waiting times. It may show where support is failing and how to fix it. What it is unlikely to do is claim that ADHD and autism are suddenly being handed out too freely. Neurodivergent children have always been here. Society is finally learning how to see them. If anything hope this neurodiversity review will put to bed the argument that there is an overdiagnosis epidemic
You can read the government press release on the mental health and neurodivergent review here
Read more of our articles on neurodiversity here