Put autistic women and girls at the heart: exploring the experiences of autistic women during diagnostic assessments in the UK

Abstract

Purpose It is suggested that autism assessments are not sensitive to the female autism presentation. Autistic women are often misdiagnosed or delayed in receiving their diagnosis. More guidance for assessing clinicians is required to improve the validity and effectiveness of autism diagnostic assessments of women. This study aims to explore the experiences of autistic women during their diagnostic assessments and understand what they considered important for diagnostic assessments of females. Design/methodology/approach A focus group with four adult autistic women was conducted, exploring their experiences and recommendations. Thematic analysis was used to identify overarching themes. Findings The main themes were 1) experience of the assessment; 2) gender-sensitive assessment content; and 3) clinician characteristics and skills. Participants made specific recommendations within these themes for how diagnostic assessments of females should be conducted. Originality/value This study differs from previous research by focusing on the experiences of autistic women specifically during diagnostic assessments and what they recommend for future assessments.