Late Diagnosis

DEFINITION

Late diagnosis refers to receiving an autism diagnosis in adulthood or significantly later than is typical. It is increasingly recognized as common — particularly for women, girls, people of color, and those who masked effectively throughout childhood.

WHY IT MATTERS

Late diagnosis can bring relief, clarity, grief, and a need to reinterpret one's life history. It is valid and meaningful at any age. Access to diagnosis remains unequal — systemic barriers affect who gets diagnosed early.

COMMON MISCONCEPTION

Late-diagnosed autistic people are just as autistic as those diagnosed in childhood. Autism does not begin at diagnosis. Late diagnosis is often accompanied by mental health impacts from years of misdiagnosis or no diagnosis.

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