Autistic Teens Emerging from the Diagnostic Shadows

When we talk about an autistic diagnosis, we typically think about toddlers or young children who have obvious repetitive behaviors and social differences. However, the landscape is evolving, and a startling revelation has emerged: a wave of teenagers are now being diagnosed with autism. These are teens who may have been misdiagnosed or entirely overlooked as autistic.

An autistic teen who is misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all can carry a heavy burden. They may feel like they don't quite fit in and struggle to understand why they're different from their peers. The lack of identification can leave them feeling lost and disconnected. Identification is not just about putting a label on someone, but rather about providing them with the proper support and guidance they need. Understanding someone's autism can pave the way for tailored interventions, therapies, and strategies that can significantly improve their quality of life, but most importantly, it can give them a place of belonging and understanding of who they truly are.

Dr. Lauren Kenworthy, a world-renowned authority on autism, explores some of the reasons why autistic teens often slip through the diagnostic cracks. She suggests these reasons:
- Diagnostic tools are outdated and tailored to young children
- Our understanding of autism is improving. We know that autistic individuals present in many different ways. This is especially true for people with high cognitive capacity and for females and gender-diverse individuals. Clinicians and doctors must catch up with the new understanding so they can identify more individuals
- Although improvements have been made in recent years, those of Latino or African American backgrounds are still less likely to receive access to an autism diagnosis than those of European descent.

Dr. Kenworthy wrote an article for Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, expanding on this topic. She talks in detail about the changes that are needed, how diagnostic tools can be improved and how we can improve access to care. At the end of her article she says, "While we have made some progress to date, more needs to be done to improve our diagnostic tools and methods and to ensure that autistic teenagers get the supports and treatment they need."

So, if you're a parent, caregiver, or simply interested in the subject, delve into Dr. Kenworthy's expert knowledge. Let's work together to create a world where every autistic teen gets the recognition, understanding, and support they deserve.

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