A threefold increase in the number of children being diagnosed with autism is a “good thing”, an expert in the condition has said. 

According to new figures released by the Department of Education, one in 20 children attending Irish schools have an autism diagnosis. 

Only a few years ago, the number of children with autism was thought to be 1.5% of the school going population. 

On Lunchtime Live, Eleanor McSherry, formerly Head of Autism Studies at UCC, said the rising number of diagnoses “makes sense”. 

“There’s a better awareness and we’ve changed how we diagnosed autism,” she said. 

“Before in 2013, you had five different conditions which were classed [similarly] to autism. 

“So, you had Rett syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome - and all these sorts of things. 

“They were combined in 2013.” 

Gender divide

Part of the increase can be attributed to a significant number of girls being diagnosed. 

According to one study published on the US site Jama Network, there has been a 305% increase in girls getting diagnosed. 

By comparison, among boys the increase was 185%. 

“Girls present differently to boys,” Ms McSherry said. 

“Girls mask their traits; they cope with the world around them but also end up with issues - such as anxiety, mental health issues, self-harming, eating disorders. 

“And this is down to not being diagnosed early enough.”

'Girls are getting the help that they deserve'

Ms McSherry said there was previously “a lot of scepticism” about getting a child diagnosed with autism. 

The problem is, she added, that not getting them diagnosed means “they have problems later on.” 

“I existed in the world for 50-years and didn’t know I was autistic,” she said. 

“So, I think it’s a good thing because I was very damaged by a system that didn’t recognise my difference.

“Now, we recognise that difference and girls are getting the help that they deserve.”

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Main image: Parents and a child. Picture by: Alamy.com