Feature interview: Is an autism diagnosis becoming glamourised?

Autism rates are soaring around the world. It's a trend that troubles Dame Uta Frith who has been studying the disorder for more than six decades. She says the idea of autism on a spectrum has expanded so much it's starting to lose any meaning at all. More and more, the diagnosis is being used to describe people with all kinds of social challenges or sensory issues. She worries that some people are self-identifying as autistic, even glamourizing it, fueled by social media instead of a specific clinical diagnosis. Dame Frith is an Emeritus Professor at University College London and says questions need to be asked to ensure autism research is robust and support is given appropriately.

Afternoons · RNZ