Why So Many Kids With Autism Are Diagnosed At Older Ages

[Arnold Korotkin]

Why So Many Kids With Autism Are Diagnosed At Older Ages

Many children receive an autism diagnosis at older ages due to increased awareness and broadened diagnostic criteria, but a child's specific developmental pathway, social masking, and lack of access to early services also play a role. Individuals with milder or different-presenting symptoms may not be identified until later in life, especially if their social or academic successes hide their challenges.Furthermore, some children are not diagnosed earlier because their symptoms are not severe enough or because of a lack of awareness and resources for their families.  

Increased awareness and changing criteria

• Broader awareness: 

  There is greater awareness of autism among parents and clinicians, which leads to more people seeking and receiving diagnoses that might have been missed in the past. 
• Expanded criteria: 

  Changes in diagnostic manuals, such as the DSM-5 in 2013, redefined autism as a spectrum and removed earlier, more restrictive categories, which has influenced diagnostic practices. 
• Improved access: 

  Increased access to diagnostic services, often due to dedicated efforts by advocacy groups and government programs, helps more children get evaluated. 

Individual and social factors

• Different developmental paths: 

  Research suggests that those diagnosed later may follow a different developmental trajectory, with social and behavioral difficulties becoming more apparent during adolescence. 
• "Masking" and social masking: 

  High-achieving individuals may mask their autistic traits, leading parents and professionals to believe a diagnosis is not needed. 
• Delayed recognition: 

  Pediatricians may be hesitant to diagnose autism early, often wanting to give children more time to develop and reassess their worries. 

Resource and systemic barriers

• Access to services: 

  Access to diagnostic services can be limited by insurance, financial status, or a lack of providers with expertise in diverse communities.
• Social and economic disparities: 

  Parents with fewer resources, such as limited financial capacity or language barriers, may have more difficulty navigating the diagnostic and support systems.
• Parental advocacy: 

  Parents' ability to advocate for their child can significantly impact the timing of diagnosis, with some parents facing a longer or more difficult journey to get answers