Autism diagnoses in England have reached a record high, with 23,345 people told they have the disorder in the 12 months up to June 2026.
The National Health Service data shows a 52 per cent increase from the 15,340 diagnoses recorded in the previous year. Under 18s are driving the surge, accounting for more than half of all new cases.
The figures arrive alongside a warning from Professor Dame Uta Frith, a pioneer in autism research, who says the diagnosis has become too broad. Her comments follow pop star Robbie Williams revealing earlier this week that he has the disorder.
Celebrity disclosures
Williams disclosed his diagnosis during a question and answer session at the autumn and winter launch of his clothing brand Hopeium at Flannels. He said he has "a little bit of autism" and uses it as a "get-out-of-jail-free card".
His announcement makes him the latest in a series of celebrities to share their experience with the lifelong disability, which influences how people interact with the world and causes problems with communicating, socialising and learning.
People with the disorder are at a higher risk of physical and mental health conditions including epilepsy, eating disorders and anxiety. An estimated 700,000 Britons have now been diagnosed with autism, while roughly 3 per cent of UK children are believed to have the condition.
Diagnostic criteria
Writing in the journal Psychological Medicine, Dame Uta warned that the definition of autism has widened excessively. She stated that "anyone" can have autism nowadays, adding that it has become a "catch-all" diagnosis for other psychological problems.
"When [autism] was first identified in the 1940s, it referred to a small group of children with severe difficulties in social interaction, communication and behaviour," she said.
"Over time, the definition has widened to include people with milder traits and no language or learning problems. Today, anyone of any age or intelligence level can be diagnosed with autism if they meet certain criteria."
Dame Uta authored pioneering research on the disorder in the 1960s and 1970s. She said the diagnosis has become part of popular culture.
"Social media, films, and online communities have helped people share experiences, but they have also spread simplified or misleading ideas," she said.
Charities now frequently describe autism as a neurodivergence rather than a developmental problem, but Dame Uta said this shift fuels misunderstandings.
"While this helps reduce stigma, it also creates tension," she said. "If autism is not a disorder, why use a medical diagnosis?"
She called for medical professionals to identify other psychological problems that may be at play, and treat patients appropriately.
"There are ways to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorder and depression," she continued. "There are also ways to build resilience in the face of significant social stress."
She added that these approaches would not be appropriate for autism diagnosed in childhood. The NHS states that early signs of autism in children include avoiding eye contact, not responding to their name, repetitive movements and reduced engagement in play.
Regional differences
The NHS data reveals the extent of the surge among children. Between June 2025 and June 2026, specialists diagnosed 5,755 children under ten, and 6,280 teenagers aged between 10 and 17.
A 2021 study previously found that UK diagnoses increased by 787 per cent between 1998 and 2018. Some experts attribute this long term trend to better awareness and understanding of the disorder.
The latest NHS figures show a continuing rise in monthly assessments. Specialists diagnosed 3,145 patients in June 2026, compared to 1,375 in June 2025 and just 370 in June 2021.
The NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for the health service in that local area, recorded 4,470 diagnoses in the year to June 2026. This represents nearly a quarter of the total for England.
That figure is more than double the 2,220 patients diagnosed by the NHS North East and North Cumbria board, which recorded the second highest number over the same period.
Waiting list growth
A further 294,792 patients are currently waiting to see a specialist after a referral for suspected autism. This waitlist has grown by more than 30,000 since June 2025 and by around 80,000 since June 2024.
The current waiting list is almost five times larger than in June 2021, when there were 68,690 referrals.
The true number of people waiting could be far higher because The Owl Centre, a major provider of UK autism assessment services, did not submit data for June. In May, 310,794 adults had a referral.
NHS England advised that the figures should be interpreted with caution, as data quality issues may be present.
Charity response
Mel Merritt, head of policy and influencing at the National Autistic Society, responded to Dame Uta's comments by emphasising that autism is a spectrum.
"As the article points out, in the past people thought the spectrum was a straight line between 'more' and 'less' autistic, but this isn't right," Merritt said. "Today we understand the spectrum to mean each autistic person has a unique combination of characteristics."
"Terms such as milder traits may be misleading or unhelpful in reflecting the difficulties and impact of navigating daily life for so many," Merritt added.
"Autistic people can be very different to one another, each with a unique set of strengths and challenges. This should not take away from or 'neglect' people with high levels of support needs."
"Autistic people need better access to quality autism assessments and tailored support," Merritt said.
"The real debate about autistic people is how to address the chronic inequalities they face. It is unhelpful and a false choice to pit autistic people against each other. Getting the right support early and better understanding makes a big difference to all autistic people."
