Ep 10 - From 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 35: A Pediatrician's View on the Autism and ADHD Surge

This episode features Dr. Matt Penson, a primary care pediatrician with Children's Medical Associates in West Broward County, joining the host to unpack what's really happening with ADHD and autism diagnoses in kids today — including the shift from 1 in 11 to 1 in 9 children now diagnosed with ADHD.The conversation covers early autism screening as young as nine months old, the long wait times families face to see a pediatric neurologist for a formal diagnosis, and why so many "straightforward" ADHD cases still need a specialist's involvement once anxiety, depression, or other comorbidities are in the picture. Dr. Penson and the host also dig into the often-overlooked population of teens presenting with ADHD symptoms for the first time, the gender gap in diagnosis, IEPs and 504 plans, medication diversion and abuse risk, and why rejection-sensitive dysphoria deserves far more attention than it gets.A practical, detailed conversation for any parent or caregiver trying to figure out where their child fits in — and what steps to take next.