A County Durham mum says medical professionals repeatedly dismissed her autistic son’s symptoms as “just behavioural” — even when he was in severe pain.
Candice Burton and her seven-year-old son Cameron, from Newton Aycliffe, appear in a new documentary about the barriers autistic people face in healthcare.
The film, Hidden Barriers: Autism and GP Surgeries, says more than half of autistic people have had symptoms dismissed by GPs as “just autism” or anxiety.
Candice knows that experience all too well.
Cameron and Candice. (Image: NEAS)
"I've lost count of the number of times we've had medical professionals say Cameron's symptoms are just behavioural," she told filmmakers.
"They can be very quick to dismiss autistic people, or their parents and carers, and say, 'this behaviour is just how it is with autism'."
In one incident, Cameron’s grommets — small tubes inserted to prevent ear infections — became dislodged and stuck sideways in his ear.
Candice recognised from Cameron’s self-harming that something was seriously wrong, but doctors blamed ear infections for months.
The problem was eventually found, confirming her fears that Cameron had been in significant pain.
She said: "It can add so much frustration and heartbreak around an already difficult situation, and it can become dangerous very quickly."
The documentary, made with the North East Autism Society, examines why autistic people often have worse health outcomes than the wider population.
Research cited in the film shows autistic people have shorter life expectancies, are more likely to suffer mental health problems and are twice as likely to need emergency care.
A survey carried out alongside the documentary found 80 per cent of autistic adults and children struggle in GP waiting rooms because of noise, crowds and bright lights.
The film produced by the North East Autism Society. (Image: NEAS)
It also found that 80 per cent struggle to identify or communicate pain to doctors, while 75 per cent find physical examinations difficult because of sensitivity to touch.
Although GP surgeries must offer reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, only eight per cent of respondents said they had been offered longer appointments or quieter waiting areas.
Paul McGinnety, chief executive of the North East Autism Society, said: "No one should have their pain or illness dismissed because they are autistic.
"Simple adjustments can transform healthcare experiences and ultimately save lives."
Dr Kathy Petersen, medical director for mental health, neurodivergence and learning disability for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, responded to the film.
She said: "Our systems are not as autism accepting as we would like, and there’s much work to be done on that.
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“One of the things we’re doing is rolling out a digital flag which acknowledges someone might need adjustments and makes them known in the system.
"That work is rolling out across North East North Cumbria and England from 2026 onwards.
The North East Autism Society says autism can be a hidden condition, meaning behaviour may be misread when children struggle to cope or communicate their needs.