In Britain, all children who consider themselves transgender will be tested for autism
The NHS will test all children who identify as transgender for autism. About this informs The Telegraph.
“Given the high prevalence of neurodiversity found among this group, everyone attending an NHS Child and Young People’s Gender Service should be screened for neurodevelopmental disorders.” – says the specification.
Every child referred to the gender clinic will be “screened for neurological disorders” such as autism and ADHD, according to the new guidelines. Doctors will also assess each child’s mental health, their relationships with their families and their sexual development, including whether they are attracted to members of their own sex. The proposal would see the health service move away from the “medical model” run by the controversial Gender Identity Development Service in favor of a “holistic” approach.
The new approach will be open for public comment in the near future before it is published later this year. It will be used by well-known children’s gender clinics in London and Manchester. Doctors will also assess each child’s mental health, family relationships and sexual development, including whether they experience same-sex attraction.
However, some groups have criticized the “serious flaw” of the policy because it leaves the door open to the use of cross-sex hormones. They also decried the lack of recognition of wider societal issues facing children.
To assess development, doctors will take a detailed history of the child’s social, cognitive, and physical development, including the significant changes that occur during puberty. They will screen children for autism and learning difficulties and decide if further cognitive assessments are needed.
