NHS Gender Clinics Mandate Autism Screening

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All children sent to NHS gender clinics will now be tested for autism and ADHD under sweeping changes following the controversial Cass Review.

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The new screenings replace the "medical model" at the former Tavistock clinic with a "holistic approach" examining mental health, family relationships, and development

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Research shows transgender youth are three to six times more likely to have autism than their peers, with half of former Tavistock patients possibly on the spectrum.

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Cases of gender dysphoria in under-18s jumped dramatically from 0.14 per 10,000 in 2011 to 4.4 per 10,000 in 2021, mainly among adolescent girls.

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Health Minister Stephen Kinnock stressed each case needs individual attention: "Rather than taking a blanket position, it's about understanding specific circumstances."

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Children who test positive for autism may be referred to specialized services to determine if their gender dysphoria symptoms relate to autism, both, or neither.

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Experts are divided on the new approach—some praise the focus on mental health while others worry it creates additional barriers for transgender youth already facing years-long wait times.

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These changes follow the UK government's permanent ban on puberty blockers for transgender youth after the Cass Review deemed evidence for their benefits "threadbare."

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