"Suffers from"
"Suffers from" is a phrase people reach for when they want to be taken seriously. We use "has" or "is" instead, because being autistic or having ADHD is not an illness.
Applies across the UK
Parents write suffers from in emails to schools, in forms, and in referrals, and it is usually for a good reason: you have learned that unless you sound serious, nothing happens. That is a fair read of how the system behaves.
We still avoid it, for two reasons. The government's own guidance on writing about disability lists afflicted by, suffers from and victim of as phrases to avoid, and says to use neutral, factual language such as has. It also warns against passive words that portray disabled people as victims. The National Autistic Society is more specific for autism Autism Autism is a difference in how the brain develops. It shapes how an autistic child sees and experiences the world, how they communicate, and how they respond to things like noise, light and touch. Read the full definition of Autism : it lists suffers from or is a victim of autism as language to avoid, and says is autistic or has an autism diagnosis instead.
The deeper point is that autism and ADHD ADHD ADHD is a difference in the way a child's brain works. It affects how they pay attention, how much energy they have, and how easily they act on impulse. Read the full definition of ADHD are not illnesses. A child can absolutely be suffering, from anxiety, from exhaustion, from a school that is not working for them, and describing that is honest and useful. It is different from saying they suffer from being who they are.
So when you need something to land, describe the impact. What happens, how often, what it costs your child, what has been tried. That is what gets read.
Other words for this
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You might hear autism
You will see "suffers from" everywhere, and most parents use it because they have learned that sounding serious is what gets a response. We use "has" or "is" instead. Government guidance on writing about disability asks for neutral wording, and the National Autistic Society lists suffers from as language to avoid, because autism is not an illness. Your child may well be suffering, from anxiety or exhaustion or a school that is not meeting them, and saying that plainly carries more weight anyway.
Where this comes from
- Inclusive language: words to use and avoid when writing about disability , GOV.UK, Office for Disability Issues, Department for Work and Pensions. Checked 2026-08-09.
- How to talk and write about autism guide, June 2025 , National Autistic Society. Checked 2026-08-09.
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