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Living with autism without knowing: receiving a diagnosis in later life

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posted on 2023-07-26, 14:48 authored by Steven D. Stagg, Hannah Belcher
Increasingly adults over the age of 50 are receiving a diagnosis of autism spectrum condition. Growing up in a time when autism was poorly recognised, these adults have lived unknowingly with the condition and face readjustment. This paper reports the first study to investigate this population. Nine adults over the age of 50, who had recently been diagnosed with ASC, were interviewed, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Results showed that the participants had received treatment for anxiety and depression. They reported ASC behaviours in their childhood and growing up they felt isolated and alien. Receiving a diagnosis was seen as a positive step and allowed for a reconfiguration of self and an appreciation of individual needs. Given the positive aspects of receiving a late diagnosis, more work is needed to identify older adults with undiagnosed ASC.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

7

Issue number

1

Page range

348-361

Publication title

Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine

ISSN

2164-2850

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

File version

  • Published version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2019-11-11

Legacy creation date

2019-11-11

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Science & Engineering

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