Autism diagnosis as a social process.

ABSTRACT:

Lay abstract

When a child or adult is referred for an autism diagnosis, clinicians from different backgrounds work together to make a diagnostic decision. A few studies have asked clinicians in interview how they feel about diagnosis and what the challenges are. We interviewed clinicians in child and adult assessment services in England, and from different professional backgrounds, about the challenges of autism diagnosis and the factors that might influence the assessment process. We found that there were a number of challenges in autism diagnosis, especially when someone coming for diagnosis was considered to be near the diagnostic threshold. Clinicians told us that making a diagnosis was like creating a 'narrative': looking at many different factors that told a story about a per

SUBMITTER: Hayes J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8814948 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature