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A crisis in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Conditions

IMC Tuesday Seminar: Talk by Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience

Info about event

Time

Tuesday 10 September 2024,  at 11:00 - 12:30

Location

Jens Chr. Skous Vej 4, 8000 Aarhus C, building 1483, room 344 and online (https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/my/imcevent)

Organizer

Interacting Minds Centre

Abstract

There has been an alarming increase in mental health problems. Is this increase real, what is it due to? Some popular ideas include over-use of social media, long-term effects of the pandemic, and effects of various environmental toxins. However, these ideas lack convincing evidence. Instead, the causes are most likely found in cultural factors. The increase in Autism Spectrum Conditions has a verifiable cause in the lowering of thresholds for diagnosis. But why has the threshold been lowered? There is wide agreement that there have been cultural changes in the awareness of autism and in the perception of what constitutes typical and atypical behaviour. 

I will consider how ‘concept creep’ has affected recognition and diagnosis of ASC, likely through a looping mechanism. Looping allows fragile facts derived from research to be modified by subjective experience, which then provides a persistent trickle into the formulation of diagnostic criteria and provision of support. I will argue that the changes now in progress have turned ASC into a banner for a new identity and away from the clinic. As the core features of autism are changing, individuals with severe and unequivocal social communication impairments are in danger of becoming marginalised. Do we need a new approach to classification?

About the speaker

Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development, UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience


Free of charge - All are welcome, but registration is required. 

Please note that this talk is not held at the IMC (but very near by!). Please go to building 1483, room 344.