(UK) Belfast sees autism increase: 171 cases in 2013-14 to 567 in 2017-18.

Feb 24, 2019, BBC: Autism diagnoses in NI children up by more than 100% https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-47028502 The number of children being diagnosed with autism in Northern Ireland has more than doubled in five years. Some health trusts have seen a three-fold increase and there are also 2,500 under-18s still waiting to be assessed. Healthcare professionals and autism charities have pointed to increased awareness as a reason for the jump. Kerry Boyd, the head of Autism NI, said her organisation is "inundated" with requests for support. "The introduction of the Autism Act (NI) 2011 and the accompanying increase in awareness both within the general public and health and education professions may have contributed to a rise in the number of assessments carried out and resulting diagnoses," she said. … "As a result of this exponential increase, many families are not receiving an adequate level of support particularly in relation to early intervention." In total 2,345 children under 18 were diagnosed as autistic last year, compared with 1,047 five years previously. … The Belfast Trust saw the highest increase, from 171 cases in 2013-14 to 567 in 2017-18. There was also a trebling of the numbers diagnosed in the Southern Trust, from 72 to 234 in the five-year period. The South Eastern Trust had the smallest rise but diagnoses were still up 66% from 230 cases in 2013-14 to 378 last year. … More than 1,000 children in the Northern Trust are awaiting a diagnosis, while the Belfast and Western Trusts have 600 or more children waiting for an assessment. … Dr Alan Stout, the chair of the Northern Ireland GP Committee of the British Medical Association, said figures have "skyrocketed" due to "increased awareness" and changes to the criteria under the 2011 legislation.says she faced a long wait to get her two children diagnosed. … "We do tend to notice that the diagnoses are getting younger and younger - it has big, big implications if the diagnosis can be confirmed….