A growing body of accounts from autistic women diagnosed in adulthood is exposing systematic gaps in clinical recognition rooted in gender-biased diagnostic frameworks. For decades, diagnostic criteria for autism—particularly those outlined in the DSM—have emphasised presentations more commonly observed in boys and men, resulting in the systematic underrecognition of autism in girls and women.
These late-diagnosed individuals are now reshaping clinical understanding by documenting their experiences and contributing to research that challenges historical diagnostic practices. Their evidence reveals how clinicians have historically missed female-typical autism presentations, leading to prolonged psychological distress and delayed access to appropriate interventions and support systems.
This emerging clinical knowledge is prompting a critical reassessment of diagnostic guidelines and training practices, signalling a meaningful shift toward more gender-sensitive approaches to autism recognition across all age groups.
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