Women seeking an autism diagnosis in Australia: A qualitative exploration of factors that help and hinder.

This study interviewed 10 Australian women who were diagnosed with autism as adults. It found that helpful factors included recognizing they might be autistic, having support from others, and working with knowledgeable doctors. Unhelpful factors included doctors dismissing their concerns, long waiting lists, high costs, and assessment tools that didn't suit women well. The research suggests improvements are needed in how healthcare providers understand autism in women.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of 10 Australian women diagnosed with autism in adulthood within the past 5 years. Using framework analysis, researchers identified key facilitators and barriers across individual, professional, and systemic levels. Facilitators included self-recognition of autism traits, motivation, assessment preparation, social support, and ability to unmask authentic behaviors. Professional factors included having knowledgeable diagnosticians who provided accommodations.

Barriers included provider dismissal of initial concerns, healthcare system navigation challenges, costs, long waitlists, and unsuitable assessment tools. The findings highlight needs for improved provider education about autism presentations in women and development of resources to support diagnostic preparation.

Results suggest need for improved provider education about autism in women, development of female-appropriate assessment tools, and resources to help women prepare for diagnostic assessments. Healthcare systems should address access barriers including costs and wait times while supporting self-advocacy skills development.

Small sample size of 10 participants limits generalizability. Qualitative design cannot establish causation. Study focused only on women who successfully obtained diagnosis, potentially missing experiences of those who faced insurmountable barriers. No comparison group included.

An autism diagnosis can have a big impact on women and make it possible to access support. This study explored women's experiences of being diagnosed with autism as an adult in Australia, to try to understand what was helpful (facilitators) and unhelpful (barriers) for them during this process. We interviewed 10 autistic women who had been diagnosed in the last 5 years. Framework analysis was used to understand the data.

We wanted to understand barriers and facilitators relating to the individual participants, the professionals they saw and the system they went through for their diagnostic assessment. Women reported that being able to recognise they were autistic, being motivated, preparing for the assessment, having social support and unmasking to be themselves were helpful during the diagnostic process. They reported that having a knowledgeable diagnostician who made accommodations for their needs assisted them during the assessment process. When providers dismissed the participants when they first raised the possibility they were autistic, it delayed them in seeking an assessment.

At the system level, the women in this study found some aspects of the healthcare system difficult to navigate, particularly costs and long waitlists. Some found the assessment tools used were not well suited to them. The experiences of the women in this study highlight improvements that could be made to accessing an adulthood autism diagnosis in Australia. These include improving provider knowledge of the varied presentation of autism and the development of resources to help autistic women prepare for their diagnostic assessment.