Understanding Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood: Where Are We Now and How Do We Move Forward?

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Rabba, A. S., Lampinen, L. A., Meldrum, P., Dwyer, P., South, M., Taylor, L., Uljarević, M., & Bal, V. (2025). Understanding Barriers to Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism in Adulthood: Where Are We Now and How Do We Move Forward? Autism Research, 18(12), 2362-2367. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70136

Publication date: 8 Nov 2025 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
8
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 8 (12.5%)
  1. Aspasia Stacey Rabba
  2. Linnea A. Lampinen
  3. Phoebe Meldrum
  4. Patrick Dwyer *
  1. Mikle South
  2. Lauren Taylor
  3. Mirko Uljarević
  4. Vanessa Bal

Abstract

Assessment and diagnosis of autism in adulthood is a growing area of interest for both clinical and research practice. In this commentary, we present a thematic analysis following the first International Society for Autism Research Special Interest Group (SIG) focused on assessment and diagnosis of autism in adulthood. An increasing recognition of missed or misdiagnosed autistic adults is highlighted throughout the commentary. Recommendations for reducing barriers in diagnostic processes are reviewed, including improving existing adult autism measures and developing new ones, especially self-report/interview tools capturing what cannot be externally observed; providing more information about the process ahead of time and better post-diagnostic support; better assessment of psychosocial and mental health histories; training to promote clinicians' understanding of adult autism; and the importance of considering culture. Professional and government bodies should support the development of neuroaffirming, client-centered practice guidelines that actively include input and co-design from autistic adults.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:30.

Cited references
21
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
5 / 21 (23.8%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
15 / 90 (16.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 15 / 56 (26.8%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 11 / 80 (13.8%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
56 / 90 (62.2%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 48 / 80 (60.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
41 / 56 (73.2%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 41 / 90 (45.6%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 37 / 48 (77.1%).
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