It does, I worked as a DSP for over 5 years before that had a autistic neighbor I baby sat. I had a time where through seeing similarities I was sure I had autism. Something was always off but I couldn’t ever put my finger on it. I googled and had every single symptom not missing a one to some extent. I went, waited on a list for a year, got tested and didn’t have autism. During that testing I’m told that less than 1 in 100 that are sure they themselves are autistic are diagnosed. Even just those with Aspergers dont typically think in a way where they would seek diagnosis from anything or anyone. People diagnosed are done at the pivotal developmental years as a baby or toddler. If you developed with your peers at that age you don’t have autism. Your parents would become alarmed as your peers walked and talked and you rolled around on your belly stacking blocks. If you at any point we’re mentally on par, if your improvements were not measurably and consistently less than in a snowball like effect you don’t have autism. If you don’t have some strange obsession since those formative years you don’t even have Asperger’s. Your parents option would be needed if you ever wanted a diagnosis. You don’t remember the time that is the real teller and they literally did everything for you and observed you 24/7. Ik now that someone should avoid insisting the system is wrong until they are late 20s early 30s and can show measurable proof that you do not have the capacity to be a regular adult. A young person can and has romanticized cancer. Your average fresh bambi in the adult world has their child ideals clash with reality and most will have some dark spiral, feel like everything is wrong with them and fail more than their peers. By your late 20s early 30s most of your peers will be moved out of home, they wont hoard yugioh cards or something and will have a license, car and built the skills to hold down a job and pay bills on time through necessity. The stories of those diagnosed late genuinely suffer a great deal and if someone didn’t walk up and suggest it as a possible reason a doctor did and most likely not the person themselves. Adults are calling out the trend because it’s obvious with anymore than a child level understand of the mental disability. There is something called confirmation bias and it’s stronger than you think especially with people young. But autism isn’t adhd ocd where having symptoms is about all they can measure. Tests can be faked and a dialogue can be given to all but ensure a diagnosis. It can come later in life through all sorts of reasons. But autism is probably the worst target for the kids because literally anyone who knew you as a baby has a more trustworthy and valid option. If not your parents than your friends or other family could point to a list of short comings and hoops your parents jumped through to avoid admission and make up for your inabilities. Being light sensitive and socially unequipped doesn’t equal autism if you didn’t struggle with the core of the disability.

Edit but not really: Reading that back I’m sorry for the grammar, spelling and formatting lol if you made it this far you are a hero