Is It Trendy To Get an ADHD or Autism Diagnosis These Days?

“It’s So Trendy to Be Autistic Now”… Umm, No. Let’s Talk.

Every now and then, I hear it. A throwaway comment, usually said with an eye-roll or a sigh:

“Everyone’s autistic now.”
“It’s trendy to have ADHD.”
“Back in my day, there was no such thing.”

And honestly? I get it. If you’re not living this life, it might look like there’s been a sudden explosion of autism and ADHD diagnoses. It might seem like everyone on social media is talking about executive dysfunction and masking and sensory overload. And that can be confronting, especially if, for most of your life, these words were barely whispered.

But here’s the thing: it’s not a trend. It’s progress. We’re not seeing more neurodivergent people - we’re just finally seeing them.

Let’s Look at the Numbers (Because Facts Are Cool Too)

I did a little digging (and by digging, I mean obsessively researching late at night like every good neurodivergent parent does). And here’s what I found - some good ol’ Aussie stats that put things into perspective.

So, to be crystal clear:

You’re more likely to have hay fever than ADHD.

You’re more likely to be lactose intolerant than autistic.

There way are more diabetics than people diagnosed with autism.

And being left-handed is way more “trendy” than any neurodevelopmental diagnosis.

And yet - no one’s out here saying “It’s so cool to be left-handed now.”

So Why Does It Feel Like There Are More People?

Because we’re finally recognising it.

Because the stigma is slowly breaking down.

Because medical research has improved, and we now understand autism and ADHD far better than we did even ten years ago.

For decades, these conditions were underdiagnosed, especially in girls, women, and anyone who didn’t fit the stereotypical white, male, hyperactive ADHD or classic “Rain Man” version of autism. Many of us grew up thinking we were just lazy, weird, dramatic, or broken. Now, we're finally getting answers. We're finally getting support.

That’s not a trend. That’s healing.

Diagnosis Does Not Equal Cool Points

Let me tell you - no one gets diagnosed with autism or ADHD for fun. It is expensive, stressful and confronting. There are no bonus points. No “cool kid” badges. No queue jumps in life.

What a diagnosis can offer is understanding. Support. The words to explain lifelong challenges. And a path forward that actually makes sense.

Is it easy to navigate? Absolutely not.

Is it worth it? A thousand times yes.

Final Thoughts (And a Tiny Bit of Sass)

So next time someone says, “It’s trendy now to be autistic,” maybe gently let them know:

It’s not a trend. It’s a recognition of reality.

We’re not increasing the numbers - we’re increasing the accuracy.

And for families like mine, this visibility has been life-changing.

We’re not trying to be trendy. We’re just trying to be seen.

And if you’re still not convinced? Just remember - it’s statistically way trendier to be vegetarian.