· New York Post
Social media has made autism more visible than ever — and, increasingly, people are arriving at their own diagnosis after watching it. The New York Post examined the trend and turned to Axis for Autism’s vice president of diagnostic services, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Emily Newton, for a clinician’s perspective.
“While social media can be a strong tool for increasing awareness and connection, it is not a diagnostic tool,” Dr. Newton told the Post. “We need to be mindful of the complexity involved in understanding an individual’s traits and behaviors, including the importance of clinical context.”
She also pointed to something the visibility has genuinely changed for the better. “I remember early in my career, adolescents and adults would often ask for examples of celebrities or public figures with autism,” she said. “While I appreciated having someone like Dan Aykroyd to reference, that example only resonated with a specific group. I’m rarely asked that question now, because social media has expanded visibility and allowed people to see themselves reflected in a much broader and more inclusive way.”
Recognizing yourself in a video is a reasonable place to start asking questions. It is not a substitute for an evaluation that accounts for developmental history, clinical context, and the full picture of how someone communicates, learns, and relates to others. If a video prompted the question, a comprehensive evaluation is how you get an answer you can act on.
Read the full article in the New York Post.