Autism explosion: Diagnoses nearly double in just one year, as experts warn NHS will soon be 'overwhelmed'

Published: 11:52 EST, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 11:56 EST, 12 November 2026 Autism diagnoses soared by 84 per cent in the last year, NHS figures have revealed - as experts warn the explosion in cases could be 'ruining' childhood.More than 27,750 people were diagnosed with the disorder in the 12 months up to September, compared to 15,103 the previous year.Month-on-month, diagnoses in England doubled - rising from 1,300 per month in September 2025 to 2,600 just one year on. The majority of new diagnoses were among children aged ten to 17 - with 6,400 diagnosed as autistic in the last year, a jump of almost 40 per cent from the same period 12 months earlier.Children under ten were the next most likely group to be diagnosed, with 5,800 new diagnoses, up more than a quarter from last year.Adults also saw a record rate of diagnoses, with the number of autism diagnoses in 35- to 44-year-olds soaring almost threefold from 1,240 to 3,600.The striking figures come just one month after a landmark Government review warned Britain risked harming a generation of children by over-diagnosing autism.The paper, led by clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy, raised concerns about the 'consistency and quality' of autism assessments carried out by private providers, whose patient numbers have rocketed. Autism diagnoses have rocketed in the last year, rising by 84 per cent overall and risking damage to childhoods, experts have warned (stock photo) A third of NHS-funded autism assessments are now conducted by private firms, which are poorly regulated and allowed to advertise directly to customers.The report found that skyrocketing demand for autism assessments was due to parents being incentivised by misguided schools and a welfare system that rewards such 'labels' to have their children diagnosed. It also blamed information shared on social media for branding common traits as evidence of the condition. The resulting demand for autism assessments, said Professor Fonagy, was leaving children with the most serious mental health issues facing unacceptably long waits for care, due to an overwhelmed system.There is no biological test to decide whether someone has autism. Assessments instead are based on judgement of a person's difficulties, developmental history and degree of functional impairment.Between 700,000 and 1million Britons are now estimated to have received a formal diagnosis of autism - with the number of diagnoses spiking in the past decade, particularly among children. Autism rates among children aged six to 11 have risen almost 20-fold this century, from 0.24 per cent in 2000 to 4.58 per cent last year. Children aged 12 to 17 have seen an even more staggering rise of more than 40-fold - with diagnoses increasing from 0.1 per cent to more than four per cent in less than 26 years.Despite high diagnosis rates in recent years, Professor Fonagy's report found no evidence the number of autistic children had increased, however.The professor instead called mis- and over-diagnosis 'harmful' - adding it could lead to unnecessary or inappropriate treatment, delay support for other issues and lower expectations of children.Professor Sir Simon Wessely, the review's vice-chairman, warned a diagnosis could 'close doors' and 'define you by your difficulties - not your strengths, circumstances and potentials'.Another scathing paper published earlier this year claimed the condition has become a 'catch-all' for other psychological problems.Professor Dame Uta Frith, a pioneer in autism research, said 'anyone' can have the disorder nowadays, adding the definition had become 'too broad' as a result of 'misleading' ideas spread on social media.