Barriers to obtaining a diagnosis of learning disabilities and/or autism
Barriers to obtaining a diagnosis of learning disabilities and/or autism
Key messages:
- Some barriers to the diagnosis of learning disabilities and autism for adults include social anxiety, stigma, language and cultural differences and mistrust of professionals. There is also a high demand and long waiting times for assessments.
- Some adults decide not to seek a diagnosis for autism. The reasons for this include being told that there is no benefit to obtaining a diagnosis as there are few services available for adults.
Reflective questions:
- From your professional experience how do the long waiting times for people accessing assessments impact their experience of diagnosis?
- Is there anyone you are working with that could benefit from a diagnosis of autism or learning disabilities – what support do they need to move forward with a possible assessment and to find an appropriate referral pathway?
