Introduction:
Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children often hear the same reassurance when concerns first surface: “Sab theek ho jayega”
When Meena first noticed that her three-year-old son Manav did not respond to his name, she was told what most Indian parents are told:
“Boys talk late.”
“Don’t worry, sab theek ho jayega.”
“You’re overthinking.”
Months turned into years. By the time Manav was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Meena had already battled guilt, denial, family pressure, and silent exhaustion. Her story is not unique. Across India, Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children walk a similar path-often alone, often misunderstood.
Behind every diagnosis is a family navigating social stigma, emotional fatigue, financial strain, and a system that is still learning how to include neurodivergent children.
Late Diagnosis: When Awareness Comes Too Late
In India, early signs of autism or ADHD are often dismissed in boys as “naughtiness,” “bad parenting,” or “mobile addiction,” while similar concerns in girls are brushed aside with remarks like “girls are sensitive,” “she’s just shy,” or “at least she’s not hyper like boys.”
Unlike countries with routine developmental screening, most Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children seek professional help only after prolonged concern or school complaints.
A recent community-based epidemiological survey in India highlighted that thousands of children live with undiagnosed developmental and psychiatric conditions, largely due to a lack of early screening and awareness (Times of India, 2024).
Delayed diagnosis means lost time, time when early intervention could have reduced challenges and empowered families.
For parents, this delay often brings regret:
“Had we known earlier, things might have been easier.”
The Emotional Weight Parents Carry
Raising an autistic or ADHD child is not just about therapies; it is about emotional resilience.
Indian research consistently shows that parents in Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children, especially mothers experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Singh (2025) found that parents of autistic children reported significantly poorer psychological well-being compared to parents of typically developing children.
In Indian households, caregiving responsibilities are disproportionately borne by mothers. Many leave jobs, sacrifice personal goals, and become full-time therapists, advocates, and protectors, often without emotional support.
For parents of children with ADHD, the burden can look different but feels equally heavy. A mixed-methods Indian study revealed that mothers of children with ADHD experienced intense stress, particularly when routines collapsed, and social understanding was absent (Patkar et al., 2023).
Financial Struggles: Therapy is not a Luxury, yet Treated like One
Speech therapy. Occupational therapy. Behaviour therapy. Special educators.
For most Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children, these are out-of-pocket expenses, rarely covered by insurance. Services are concentrated in urban centres, forcing families from smaller towns to travel long distances or abandon therapy altogether.
Islam (2024) found that parents of autistic children in India reported reduced quality of life due to high treatment costs, lack of integrated services, and delayed access to care.
Many parents quietly calculate:
“School fees or therapy?”
“Rent or intervention?”
Social Stigma: “Log kya kahenge?”
Perhaps the heaviest burden Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children carry is social judgment.
Autism and ADHD are still widely misunderstood. Children are labelled “spoilt,” “undisciplined,” or “mentally weak.” Parents, especially mothers, are blamed for “poor parenting.”
Extended families may deny the diagnosis altogether. Invitations reduce. Conversations become cautious. Some families choose silence over support.
Studies highlight that stigma and lack of social acceptance intensify parental isolation and emotional distress in Indian contexts (Islam, 2024).
School Struggles: Inclusion on Paper, Exclusion in Reality
While Indian laws promote inclusive education, reality often tells another story.
Many schools lack trained special educators, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), or sensory-friendly classrooms. Some openly refuse admission. Others subtly push children out.
In recent years, multiple Indian parents have approached courts after schools denied admission to autistic children, highlighting the gap between policy and practice (Times of India, 2025).
For Indian families raising autistic and ADHD children, school becomes not a place of growth but a daily battle for dignity.
Why Families Keep Going Anyway
Despite everything, Indian parents persist.
They form WhatsApp support groups. They learn therapy techniques at home. They advocate in schools, hospitals, and policy spaces. NGOs like Action for Autism and Tamana have become lifelines, offering guidance, community, and hope.
Recent state-led initiatives such as free autism screening and parent-mediated intervention programmes signal slow but meaningful progress (Times of India, 2025).
Conclusion: From Struggle to Understanding
Indian families do not struggle because their children are autistic or have ADHD.
They struggle because systems are slow, awareness is limited, stigma is deep, and support is uneven.
Research, stories, and lived experiences all point to one truth:
When awareness grows, struggle reduces.
By listening to parents, investing in early screening, training educators, and normalizing neurodiversity, India can move from silent suffering to collective support.
Because every child deserves understanding, and every parent deserves to feel less alone.
Note: All names used are fictional and used only for representation.
For more articles and upcoming resources, visit our homepage https://neuronesthub.com/ at NeuroNestHub.
References
Singh, E. (2025). Psychological well-being of parents raising children with autism. International Journal of Indian Psychology.
Patkar, P., Shah, H., & Sahu, S. (2023). A mixed-methods study of Indian mothers assessing ADHD burden. Indian Psychiatry Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10871433
Islam, F. (2024). Quality of life and treatment pathways among parents of children with autism in India. Indian Journal of Community Health. https://www.iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/2849
The Times of India. (2024). Over 35,000 children living with psychiatric conditions: India’s first community-based survey.
The Times of India. (2025). Parents move court over schools refusing admission to autistic children. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Action for Autism. (n.d.). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_for_Autism