Autism follow up for children in Norway nearly triples since 2016

The Norwegian Directorate of Health reported that the number of children under age 10 receiving autism follow up in specialist health services increased by 184 percent between 2016 and 2025.

This nearly threefold increase reflects a growing number of children requiring long term health and care services. The directorate notes that while some of this rise stems from better detection and diagnosis practices, more children are also experiencing a genuine need for support.

Research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health suggests that increased knowledge and improved access to assessments have significantly impacted these figures. However, researchers warn that the growth also represents a rise in children with clear needs for support and accommodation. Despite these growing numbers, the Autism Association claims that the quality of help remains inconsistent depending on where a family lives in the country. Individual parents face challenges navigating the system to secure adequate care.

Kristine Møst, a mother of a daughter with autism, stated she had to pay between 100,000 and 150,000 Norwegian kroner for private follow up because she found the public services insufficient. The Autism Association argues that municipalities often lack the necessary knowledge and systems to provide early intervention. To address these issues, the Directorate of Health plans to send a national professional guideline for autism for consultation in the spring of 2027.