“Tripling Demand for Autism Assessments in Swansea Raises Concerns over Capacity and Waiting Times, Says National Autistic Society Cymru”

(Notes to editors – this sidebar is linked to the main Swansea autism piece just filed. RY)
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked National Autistic Society Cymru the following questions about autism.
Are you surprised about the tripling figure in Swansea – is this seen across Wales?
No. We have seen some similarly steep increases in demand for autism assessments in other parts of Wales and the UK.
Would you see this is as a rise in autism diagnosis rather than a rise in autism per se?
Yes. We think rising demand for diagnostic assessments is to be welcomed because it shows increasing awareness of autism in society. However, our charity continues to be concerned about long waits to access assessments and support due to a lack of capacity within services to keep pace with demand.
Has this rise in autism affected boys and girls equally, and is autism generally identified at a certain age or does it vary?
More girls than ever before are discovering they are autistic. Many had been missed or misdiagnosed due to outdated stereotypes about autism. But that is slowly changing. While the age of identification varies, many women tell us they had to wait until adulthood for an assessment. And Swansea University research found girls wait an average of six years longer than boys for a diagnosis in Wales.
Is there any link in increased autism prevalence to environmental factors, such as living in a deprived area, diet etc?
Evidence suggests autism may be genetic. Scientists have been attempting to identify which genes might be implicated in autism for some years. Autism is likely to have multiple genes responsible rather than a single gene. It is not caused by emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.
What extra education provision do young people with autism receive?
Autistic children and young people are entitled to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act and tailored support through Wales’ new additional learning needs system. Small changes such as providing a quiet space, fidget toys or ear defenders can make a big difference in helping autistic people reach their potential. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​