Documenting the untold histories of late-diagnosed autistic adults: a qualitative study protocol using oral history methodology

Pellicano, E., Lawson, W., Hall, G., Mahony, J., Lilley, R., Davis, C., Arnold, S. R. C., Trollor, J. N., & Yudell, M. (2020). Documenting the untold histories of late-diagnosed autistic adults: a qualitative study protocol using oral history methodology. BMJ Open, 10(5), e037968. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037968

Publication date: 1 May 2020 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
9
Publication authors identified as autistic
2 / 9 (22.2%)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Receiving a diagnosis of autism in adulthood is increasingly common for a subset of individuals who were either misdiagnosed in childhood or missed out on a diagnosis altogether. This qualitative study, coproduced with autistic people, invites late-diagnosed autistic adults to share their life histories to (1) understand better the consequences of living without a diagnosis, (2) elucidate what precipitates an autism diagnosis in mid-to-late adulthood and (3) identify the perceived impact of receiving that diagnosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Oral histories have been a successful way to uncover overlooked and marginalised voices. We therefore adopt qualitative, oral history methodology in this study to understand these adults' experiences, especially of living in an era when autism was not well known. We will recruit 24 participants who will (1) have been born before 1975, (2) have received a clinical, autism diagnosis after the age of 35, (3) be English-speaking and (4) have spent most of their childhood and adulthood living in Australia. Participants will take part in four sessions, including the main, qualitative, oral history interview, through a range of possible formats to facilitate inclusion. The interview data will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has received institutional research ethics approval from Macquarie University's Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref.: 52019556310562). This study will yield understanding of the life experiences of autistic adults, especially middle-aged and older Australians, should inform more effective diagnostic practices and provide insight into the key factors that might promote resilience and enhance quality of life in autistic people. The findings will be disseminated to academic and clinical audiences through journal articles and conference presentations and to the autistic and autism communities through accessible reports. The interviews will also be prepared for digital archiving, which will enable ongoing access for future generations and communities.

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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
67
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
8 / 67 (11.9%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
14 / 242 (5.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 14 / 134 (10.4%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 12 / 191 (6.3%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
134 / 242 (55.4%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 90 / 191 (47.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
120 / 134 (89.6%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 120 / 242 (49.6%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 78 / 90 (86.7%).
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