Bucks &amp; Oxon


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<p>If you&#8217;re stuck in the quagmire of trying to get a child assessed or supported for autism or ADHD then you&#8217;ll know all too well where the system is falling short. Months or even years-long waiting lists, misdiagnosis and lack of support means kids are being labelled naughty or unacademic when really it&#8217;s the system that&#8217;s failing. </p>



<p>Identifying this need, <a href="https://healthcareinmind.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HealthCare in Mind</a> works with children, adults and families who are experiencing emotional and psychological issues, offering in-person and online assessments, treatment and therapy. Muddy chatted through the misconceptions around autism and ADHD with medical director, Dr Simon Le Clerc, who has spent time as a consultant in emergency and pre-hospital emergency medicine, a British army officer and is former medical director of the Great North Air Ambulance Service – he&#8217;s been around the block enough to know how to make a difference. Here&#8217;s what Simon had to say:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150217.701.jpg" alt="Diagnosing ADHD and autism" class="wp-image-186217" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150217.701.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150217.701-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150217.701-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150217.701-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-myth-1-autism-and-adhd-mostly-affects-boys">MYTH 1: Autism and ADHD mostly affects boys </h2>



<p>Due to differences in how autism and ADHD can present, girls have historically been underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and in reality prevalence is more even between genders. With autism, repetitive behaviours in girls can be harder to spot, such as hair twirling, and girls are also more likely to mask their challenges to align with societal expectations. Girls with ADHD, meanwhile, may exhibit more internalised symptoms, such as inattention, difficulty with organisation, or low self-esteem.&nbsp;It&#8217;s often happened that girls are diagnosed with anxiety or ADHD when it&#8217;s actually autism. It just depends on the experience of the assessor.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-myth-2-children-with-adhd-and-autism-don-t-thrive-at-school">MYTH 2: Children with ADHD and autism don&#8217;t thrive at school </h2>



<p>Schools in the UK are legally required to adjust for children with autism and ADHD, which means they can thrive at a mainstream school &#8211; they just need the right support. Many autistic children struggle with sensory overload and making friends and navigating group activities can be challenging, leading to feelings of loneliness or frustration. Children with ADHD may come across as inattentive, easily distracted, find it hard to follow instructions and possibly fidgety, talking noisily or interrupting conversations. But support including 1:1 with a teaching assistant, sensory breaks, tailored learning or accommodations in exams can make or break the school experience. It all starts with an Education, Health and Care Plan, which outlines the support that they need until they are 25 years old. This can transform their experience of school and the progress they make with their education, even in a mainstream environment.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/shutterstock_2164359223-scaled-e1746638745844.jpg" alt="Teen students and art" class="wp-image-188563"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-myth-3-autism-is-only-diagnosed-in-childhood"> MYTH 3: Autism is only diagnosed in childhood </h2>



<p>Autism is often first identified in childhood, especially as developmental differences in social interaction, communication difficulties, intense interests and repetitive behaviours become more noticeable, but it can be diagnosed at any age. It&#8217;s more apparent during tricky times &#8211; when the demands of social situations, school or work stressors reveal the teen&#8217;s or adult&#8217;s challenges. Many adults are being diagnosed with autism now due to more awareness, and there have been suggestions of overdiagnosis, but with a rigorous assessment process that won&#8217;t happen. Where once children struggling with attention, focus, or social interaction were simply labelled as &#8220;naughty&#8221; or difficult, we are now better able to understand the wider factors, both psychological and societal, that are at play. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-myth-4-autistic-children-are-prone-to-meltdowns">MYTH 4: Autistic children are prone to meltdowns </h2>



<p>Name me a child that hasn&#8217;t had a tantrum at some point, particularly when they haven&#8217;t got something they want, but in autistic children, it&#8217;s triggered by an inability to cope with what&#8217;s happening around them and is a full meltdown. This can manifest as crying, screaming, hitting, becoming rigid or non-responsive. But not all autistic children will have meltdowns. It can present as withdrawal, anxiety or self-soothing behaviours such as stimming (repetitive movements or sounds that individuals unconsciously engage in to self-soothe).&nbsp;Can you avoid meltdowns? Working with a psychiatrist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist can help autistic children to self-regulate their emotions in these situations. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150239.049.jpg" alt="Diagnosing ADHD and autism" class="wp-image-186218" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150239.049.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150239.049-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150239.049-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Untitled-design-2025-03-25T150239.049-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-myth-5-there-are-long-waiting-lists-to-get-children-assessed">MYTH 5: There are long waiting lists to get children assessed </h2>



<p>Unfortunately, there are long waiting lists for autism and ADHD assessments in the UK that can range from months to years depending on the area. In the meantime, children go unsupported, impacting the child’s development and putting stress on families. For families who can access a private assessment, though, children will be seen much quicker. At HealthCare in Mind, we specialise in diagnostic assessments and treatments for a range of neurodevelopmental including autism and ADHD. We offer a swift and comprehensive diagnostic assessment with no GP referral needed, develop a care plan, and offer evidence-based therapies including occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong><em>To help more families beat the waiting lists and get the support they need for their child, book your initial consultation before 31 May for a special 20% discount on <a href="https://healthcareinmind.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HealthCare in Mind</a>’s assessment services.</em></strong></p>


ADHD & Autism: what parents (and teachers) get wrong

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