The cost of misunderstanding and misdiagnosing high functioning autism in females

This presentation seeks to explain the dangers of misdiagnosing high functioning autism in females. Until recently, it has been assumed that autism is a predominantly male condition and that it affects far fewer females than... [ view full abstract ]

This presentation seeks to explain the dangers of misdiagnosing high functioning autism in females.

Until recently, it has been assumed that autism is a predominantly male condition and that it affects far fewer females than males. It is now understood that females with high functioning autism present differently, however, the formal diagnostic process that failed to recognise this different presentation remains the same.

As a result, an entire generation of females that have journeyed through the mental health system have been either not diagnosed or misdiagnosed with conditions that only represent part of their actual condition like an eating disorder or with a condition that mimics autism in some aspects like borderline personality disorder.

The presentation draws upon the experiences of the author and six women who were misdiagnosed and went on to get an autism diagnosis and a further four who are sure that they have a form of autism yet have no diagnosis and therefore struggle.

The results of the interviews highlight the problems that the interviewees have in female specific experiences such as pregnancy and motherhood and explains the dangers that they endure like increased female vulnerability and increased mental distress due to their mental health being managed in an ineffective way.

The presentation will focus on outlining the effects of gender disparity in autism in women and suggesting that the formal diagnostic process used to identify autism be amended to accommodate the information that already exists regarding the alternate presentation of high functioning autism in females.

The participants responded to an open call for submissions via social media. They were advised that they were able to withdraw their participation at any time and no identifying information was collected. [ view full abstract ]

The participants responded to an open call for submissions via social media. They were advised that they were able to withdraw their participation at any time and no identifying information was collected.