A recent article from Psychology Today aims to shed light on the significant barriers within the diagnostic system that prevent autistic adults from gaining recognition and support. It explains that many autistic individuals, especially women and those considered ‘highly intelligent,’ were missed in childhood and thus lost out on diagnoses.
As adults, we face numerous obstacles to securing a formal diagnosis, including finding a doctor willing to assess adults, affording the high costs without insurance coverage, locating childhood informants to provide developmental history, and demonstrating ‘traits’ that tend to be masked over time.
Together, these diagnostic challenges contribute to many undiagnosed autistic adults continuing to lack the understanding, accommodations, and assistance that a recognised diagnosis can provide.
The article makes clear that substantial improvements are needed in the diagnostic process itself to ensure autistic adults can obtain the recognition and support they require. Allowing more autistic individuals to self-diagnose if they meet the criteria may be one helpful approach to bypass systemic barriers. But removing the significant roadblocks within the formal diagnostic pipeline remains crucial so adults no longer find themselves prevented from securing an autism diagnosis purely due to procedural issues rather than actually lacking criteria.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
The Barriers to an Adult Diagnosis of Autism
The Barriers to an Adult Diagnosis of Autism
The Barriers to an Adult Diagnosis of Autism
A recent article from Psychology Today aims to shed light on the significant barriers within the diagnostic system that prevent autistic adults from gaining recognition and support. It explains that many autistic individuals, especially women and those considered ‘highly intelligent,’ were missed in childhood and thus lost out on diagnoses.
As adults, we face numerous obstacles to securing a formal diagnosis, including finding a doctor willing to assess adults, affording the high costs without insurance coverage, locating childhood informants to provide developmental history, and demonstrating ‘traits’ that tend to be masked over time.
Together, these diagnostic challenges contribute to many undiagnosed autistic adults continuing to lack the understanding, accommodations, and assistance that a recognised diagnosis can provide.
The article makes clear that substantial improvements are needed in the diagnostic process itself to ensure autistic adults can obtain the recognition and support they require. Allowing more autistic individuals to self-diagnose if they meet the criteria may be one helpful approach to bypass systemic barriers. But removing the significant roadblocks within the formal diagnostic pipeline remains crucial so adults no longer find themselves prevented from securing an autism diagnosis purely due to procedural issues rather than actually lacking criteria.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.