ADHD and autism diagnoses surge 79% in seven months as landmark government review warns overdiagnosis is harming a generation

From the Newshound archive · first published 11 October 2026.

A 607-page government-commissioned review has found that unprecedented numbers of people are being told they have ADHD or autism, with experts warning unnecessary diagnoses could be defining children by what they cannot do and lowering their ambitions. Over-50s are driving a dramatic surge, with ADHD and autism declarations on travel insurance policies jumping 79% in just seven months, from 2,613 to 4,676. Consultant neurologist Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan warns social media has fuelled an obsession with medical labels, medicalising normal childhood behaviour.

England's ADHD assessment waiting list has ballooned from 511,000 to 780,000 in a single year, with London's list up 72% to 112,570.

Author Matt Haig, who has been diagnosed with both ADHD and autism, hit back at the overdiagnosis debate, calling it 'misguided and disingenuous' and accusing politicians of stirring stigma to avoid paying benefits.

The review, commissioned by then-health secretary Wes Streeting, found the 16-to-24 age group meeting criteria for a common mental disorder has surged from one in six to one in four.