The proportion of new cases of autism has increased successively between 2010 and 2023 in all age groups and for both genders, shows the National Board of Health and Welfare's survey.
The increase is most pronounced among young people and primarily among girls in the age group 10-17 years. In this group, the number of diagnoses has increased sixfold.
The figure is "unexpectedly high", notes Peter Salmi, who says that it indicates that we will have a higher proportion of the population with an autism diagnosis than before.
Many factors
The National Board of Health and Welfare has not mapped out what the increase is due to. But it is likely that many factors are interacting.
When it comes to younger people, the school looks very different now than it did before. If you have a certain problem, it can be difficult to cope with school. Society as a whole also makes entirely different demands, he says.
Peter Salmi also raises improved knowledge, increased awareness, and resources to investigate as an explanation for the broad increase in diagnoses.
We see a corresponding increase, for example, when it comes to ADHD, depression, and anxiety syndrome, he says.
Delayed diagnosis
The fact that the increase in autism diagnoses is largest among girls may be because girls previously went a bit "under the radar".
There may be differences in symptoms and how you handle difficulties between boys and girls. Girls can go a long time with other diagnoses before they get an autism diagnosis. Boys are often diagnosed a bit earlier, says Salmi.
Many of those who receive an autism diagnosis have previously also had other diagnoses. Mostly, it's about ADHD, but for girls, in particular, it's common to have had depression and anxiety syndrome as well.
It's important to have early detection so that you can provide support and interventions quickly, says Peter Salmi.
Autism, like ADHD, is a development-related (neuropsychiatric) disability that can vary in severity between individuals.
In autism, there are difficulties for the brain to handle and process information, which affects the ability to socialize and communicate.
Other characteristics include, among other things, limited and repetitive interests, behaviors, or activities.
Autism can be diagnosed from the age of two. One to two percent of the population is estimated to have autism, although it is reported to be increasing today.
Source: National Board of Health and Welfare
