Two weeks ago, a team of American scientists published a large report documents an astonishing increase in the diagnosis of autism.

In just over ten years, between 2011 and 2022, the investigators found that annual autism diagnoses tripled among children 5 to 8 years of age, with smaller but still significant increases among older age groups.

How does that happen?

The researchers did not provide an explanation.

Autism is a spectrum.

At one end, you may have an individual who is profoundly impaired, nonverbal, barely functioning.

On the other end, you have Temple Grandin, a best-selling author and zoologist.

Elon Musk has diagnosed himself who is on the autism spectrum, and who am I to question Elon Musk?

The increase in diagnoses appears to occur across the spectrum.

Experts have suggested many possible causes.

Exposure to endocrine disruptors, substances that mimic the action of female hormones, has been linked to a higher risk of autism, as has exposure to other environmental toxins.

But the preferred answer from mainstream doctors is that increased awareness and improved screening, as well as the simplification of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder that took place in 2013, are the main drivers of the increase in diagnosis.

I don’t buy it.

I have been a general practitioner for more than 30 years.

OK, maybe increased awareness and screening have played a role, and no doubt the 2013 changes to the rules for diagnosis make it easier to say a child is on the autism spectrum.

But my first-hand experience tells me that something else, something big, is being overlooked.

Here’s my take on what’s going on.

Imagine an 8-year-old boy who is defiant.

He is rude.

Disrespectful.

He talks back.

Twenty years ago, the boy’s teacher would have spoken to the parents.

The teacher would have said: “Your son’s behavior is totally unacceptable. I need you to teach your son what is expected, the basics of what is required in a public school classroom.”

Now imagine the same boy, same classroom, same school, today.

The teacher today is likely to say, “Your son doesn’t seem to understand social norms. He seems to have what we call a deficit in social-emotional reciprocity. He may be on the autism spectrum. Have you considered getting him evaluated?”

In the new edition of my book “The Collapse of Parenting” I call this problem medicalization of misbehavior.

I don’t mean it is only explanation for the increase in diagnoses.

It isn’t.

But it’s definitely a big part of the story.

I have seen this with my own eyes, not only in my own patients, but in my visits to more than 500 schools over the past 23 years.

In other words: That kid doesn’t really have autism. He is now diagnosed like being on the autism spectrum, but really he’s just a snotty kid whose parents don’t know how to parent.

Why did this change occur?

Several reasons.

First: It takes courage for a teacher to tell a parent that the parent needs to do a better job of parenting. It is easier to just suggest a psychiatric diagnosis.

Second: If a child is diagnosed as being on the spectrum, the school will receive more money from state and federal programs, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. So schools have a financial incentive to get more kids diagnosed.

Third: When parents have bought into the idea that their child’s problems are due to autism, they do not see their child’s problems as their problem anymore.

And the more upsetting the child’s behavior, the more likely that reaction is.

The teacher calls the parent, only to be told to call the prescribing psychiatrist instead.

I have seen it.

But consider the downside.

As a GP and as a father, I am convinced that a key requirement for success in life is to take responsibility for one’s own actions.

The end result of the medicalization of misbehavior is a shift of responsibility away from the child and parents to the medical/counseling/psychiatric complex.

Imagine what happens if that 8-year-old boy spits on the teacher.

Some try to discipline the child for such unacceptable behavior will result in teacher is reprimanded: “Justin can’t help it. He is on the spectrum. You had no right to discipline him.”

I say to parents: Have the courage to take responsibility for your child.

Push back against the medicalization of misconduct. Resist the drug/counseling complex.

Transform your snotty child into a young gentleman or lady.

It can be done. I’ve seen it done.

You have to do it, for your child’s sake.

Leonard Sax, MD, PhD is a family physician and psychologist and author of “The Collapse of Parenting” (Basic Books).