[_fs]

AFAIK, there are several reasons for the increase in autism diagnosis, but a few key ones people forgot about...

1. DSM IV, the old way, had a separate diagnosis for many autism related disorders. Think Asperger's, pdd-nos, etc. When DSM V was released, many separate diagnosis were umbrella'd in to autism spectrum disorder. The old disorders simply disappeared and are not made any more.

2. Getting an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis opens up a huge amount of insurance and educational leeway. You go from qualifying for general therapy to intensive support therapy, classes, and more. At school, with the diagnosis, you get expanded help for kids that are really struggling. So there is a strong will created by parents and educators to try to get that diagnosis. When you are struggling, this extra support can really help everyone, the kids, teachers, and parents.

These two points alone may account for a lot of the increases we are seeing. I don't know why they are never mentioned by media and the skeptics.