{"id":15812,"date":"2023-05-02T15:25:26","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T20:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/last-drum.flywheelsites.com\/?p=15812"},"modified":"2025-01-21T17:00:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T22:00:03","slug":"age-and-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/","title":{"rendered":"How Age &#8211; and Age of Diagnosis &#8211; Affect Quality of Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-one-sixth fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:16.666666666667%;width:calc(16.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.16666666666667 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:40px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:40px;--awb-bg-size:cover;width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"--awb-text-transform:none;\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#jump\">Dr. Gray Atherton<\/a> discusses the critical role of age and age of diagnosis in shaping the quality of life for autistic individuals. She provides a brief history of autism understanding and considers how changes in diagnostic criteria and cultural stigmas have affected the \u201clost generation.\u201d The speaker details two studies that emphasize the importance of early intervention and how best to support people who receive a late diagnosis. Atherton explains that diagnosis directly affects quality of life, making detection and diagnosis critical for adults. She notes that further research must incorporate lived experiences and underscores the need for investment in care across the lifespan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Take the knowledge quiz for this presentation <a href=\"#jump\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-video fusion-youtube fusion-aligncenter\" style=\"--awb-max-width:1500px;--awb-max-height:844px;--awb-width:100%;\"><div class=\"video-shortcode\"><div class=\"fluid-width-video-wrapper\" style=\"padding-top:56.27%;\" ><iframe title=\"YouTube video player 1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_9ctfGPeEIY?wmode=transparent&autoplay=0\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:40px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\" style=\"--awb-text-transform:none;\"><h2><strong>In this webinar:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b>2:30<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Autism prevalence estimates<br \/>\n<\/span><b>5:00 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnosis differences by gender<br \/>\n<\/span><b>8:30 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autism through the ages<br \/>\n<\/span><b>10:30 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DSM description evolution<br \/>\n<\/span><b>13:15 &#8211; <\/b>Special education and the Salamanca Statement<br \/>\n<b>17:10 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in autism assessments<br \/>\n<\/span><b>18:20 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lost generation<br \/>\n<\/span><b>21:00 &#8211; <\/b><i>Study: Age of Diagnosis, Autistic Traits, and Quality of Life<br \/>\n<\/i><b>23:25 &#8211; <\/b>Results<br \/>\n<b>27:00 &#8211; <\/b>Quality of life and aging<br \/>\n<b>31:00 &#8211; <\/b>Study recap<br \/>\n<b>31:30 &#8211; <\/b><i>Study: Lived experiences of late diagnosed adults<br \/>\n<\/i><b>33:20 &#8211; <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Themes and results<br \/>\n<\/span><b>34:25 &#8211; <\/b>Participant quotes<br \/>\n<b>39:00 &#8211; <\/b>How to disclose<br \/>\n<b>41:20 &#8211; <\/b>Overview of study results<br \/>\n<b>44:35 &#8211; <\/b>Future directions<br \/>\n<b>47:22 &#8211; <\/b>References and contact information<br \/>\n<b>47:30 &#8211; <\/b>Q &amp;A<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atherton states that autism is a lifelong condition and highlights that less than 1% of research funding goes to lifespan issues in autism. She discusses differences in prevalence rates by country and gender <\/span><b>(3:20)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as well as environmental and heritability drivers <\/span><b>(6:30)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The speaker provides a brief history of autism understanding through the ages, highlighting significant milestones and epidemiological studies from 1943 to today <\/span><b>(8:30)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She details changes in autism prevalence from 4.5 in 10,000 children in 1966 to 1 in 54 children in 2013 <\/span><b>(11:30)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Atherton attributes the rise in prevalence to improved diagnostic practice and increased awareness and educational inclusion <\/span><b>(12:25)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201clost generation\u201d refers to autistic individuals who received an autism diagnosis in adulthood and therefore lost the time and support afforded to those who receive an early diagnosis <\/span><b>(18:20)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Atherton outlines two recent studies investigating why these individuals are being missed and how it affects their quality of life:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Study One: Age of Diagnosis, Autistic Traits, and Quality of Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first study focused on understanding the impact of age of diagnosis on quality of life and autistic traits. Atherton and her colleagues examined a sample of individuals diagnosed with autism later in life by assessing responses to five autism diagnosis and symptom questionnaires <\/span><b>(21:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Findings revealed that about two-thirds of females were diagnosed over 18. In contrast, the majority of men were diagnosed under 18. Despite being diagnosed later in life, females reported high levels of autistic symptoms <\/span><b>(24:45)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There was a significant association between late diagnosis in adulthood and lower quality of life. These individuals reported higher levels of autistic traits, including social anxiety, loneliness, and lower satisfaction with life. In contrast, earlier diagnosis was associated with better quality of life outcomes <\/span><b>(29:15)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Study Two: Qualitative Interviews with Late Diagnosed Adults<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second study involved qualitative interviews with adults who received an autism diagnosis later in life <\/span><b>(31:30)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Atherton highlights the importance of exploring their lived experiences to gain insights into the challenges and benefits of late diagnosis. Themes found during interviews included barriers to diagnosis, negative sentiments to non-diagnosis, benefits of diagnosis, and the pros and cons of receiving a diagnosis <\/span><b>(33:20)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The speaker quotes study participants for each theme, demonstrating the intersectionality of late diagnosis and quality of life. Overall, participants overwhelmingly expressed positive sentiments about receiving a diagnosis in adulthood. One person described it as a signpost that provided answers and guidance on how to approach life differently and feel proud of one\u2019s identity <\/span><b>(37:29)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Diagnosis brought relief, clarity, access to appropriate support, and personal advocacy. However, participants also expressed some barriers to diagnosis, such as parental perceptions and societal misconceptions about autism <\/span><b>(39:20)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Implications of Late Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atherton asserts that these findings underscore the significance of early diagnosis in autism <\/span><b>(41:25)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. She highlights diagnostic disparities between men and women and considers potential drivers. The speaker emphasizes that receiving a late diagnosis matters and assures viewers that, although a late diagnosis may be complex and confusing, the identity and understanding that come with it can have a significant positive impact on personal acceptance <\/span><b>(43:15)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Early detection enables timely interventions, tailored educational approaches, and access to support services, all of which contribute to better outcomes for autistic individuals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Future Directions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The presenter highlights the need to recognize autism in females and change stereotypes of autism as a male condition. We must also reduce stigmas, continue care into adulthood, and support the \u201clost generation\u201d as they realize their diagnoses. She asserts the need for increased research into cultural differences, societal perceptions, and access to diagnosis and support <\/span><b>(45:00)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The speaker also discusses the significance of studying the experiences of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, parents of children with autism, and employment experiences of autistic people.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-one-sixth fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:16.666666666667%;width:calc(16.666666666667% - ( ( 4% + 4% ) * 0.16666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:5px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/adult-autism-diagnosis\">How To Pursue an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult<\/a><\/strong><em><strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>From the Cleveland Clinic<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"jump\" class=\"fusion-container-anchor\"><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_3 1_3 fusion-one-third fusion-column-first\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:33.333333333333%;width:calc(33.333333333333% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.33333333333333 ) );margin-right: 4%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\" style=\"--awb-text-transform:none;\"><p><strong>The speaker:<\/strong><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-thumbnail wp-image-15383 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dr-Gray-Atherton-300x300-1-150x150.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dr-Gray-Atherton-300x300-1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27150%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20150%20150%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27150%27%20height%3D%27150%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dr-Gray-Atherton-300x300-1-66x66.jpg 66w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dr-Gray-Atherton-300x300-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dr-Gray-Atherton-300x300-1-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Dr-Gray-Atherton-300x300-1.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>Gray Atherton, PhD, has a BSc in Child Development from Vanderbilt University, a Master\u2019s in Counselling from University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Individual Differences from University of Houston. She has previously lectured at University of Houston and the University of Wolverhampton. Prior to entering academia, Gray was a counselor for adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions. \u201cI am interested in understanding how people with autism spectrum condition see the social world. Specifically, I explore individual differences in social processing and how these differences often found in people with autism also exist in the general population. I also investigate anthropomorphism, or seeing the human in the non-human, and how this relates to social processing in autism. To investigate this I am developing virtual reality techniques that allow for anthropomorphic experiences. My other research interest lies more broadly in embodied social processing. I am particularly interested in how movement can affect the way we see ourselves and our social partners, and how this can be used to understand special populations.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-two-third fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;width:66.666666666667%;width:calc(66.666666666667% - ( ( 4% ) * 0.66666666666667 ) );\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><h4>Take the knowledge quiz<\/h4>\n<p>Can&#8217;t see the quiz below? 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fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:30px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-recent-posts fusion-recent-posts-1 avada-container layout-default layout-columns-3\"><section class=\"fusion-columns columns fusion-columns-3 columns-3\"><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/\" aria-label=\"How Age &#8211; and Age of Diagnosis &#8211; Affect Quality of Life\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_120494780-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"autism written on the white paper with the glasses on it\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271690%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201690%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271690%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_120494780-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_120494780-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_120494780-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-01-21T17:00:03-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/\">How Age &#8211; and Age of Diagnosis &#8211; Affect Quality of Life<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-01-21T17:00:03-05:00<\/span><span>May 2nd, 2023<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/adults-on-the-spectrum\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Adults on the Spectrum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/anxiety\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Anxiety<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/autism-spectrum-disorders\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Autism Spectrum Disorders<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/self-care\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Self Care<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>   Dr. Gray Atherton discusses the critical role of age and age of diagnosis in shaping the quality of life for autistic individuals. She provides a brief history of autism understanding and considers<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-differences-in-diagnoses\/\" aria-label=\"Delayed and Missed Diagnoses of Autistic Women\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/preteen-girl-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Upset young girl sitting on the floor of her bedroom, feeling down\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/preteen-girl-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/preteen-girl-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/preteen-girl-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-10-17T17:01:33-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-differences-in-diagnoses\/\">Delayed and Missed Diagnoses of Autistic Women<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-10-17T17:01:33-05:00<\/span><span>November 8th, 2022<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/adults-on-the-spectrum\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Adults on the Spectrum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/assessment\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Assessment<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>  Hannah Belcher, Ph.D., Autistic researcher, speaker, and author, discusses the often late and missed diagnosis of autistic females. She dives into the gender gap inherent in autism research, assessments, and clinical understanding, demonstrating<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-brain-differences-autism\/\" aria-label=\"Behavioral and Brain Signatures of Autism in Females\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"puzzle pieces with male and female gender symbols on the pink and blue background. concept equality\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/AdobeStock_238082786-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-03-07T15:37:58-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/gender-brain-differences-autism\/\">Behavioral and Brain Signatures of Autism in Females<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-03-07T15:37:58-05:00<\/span><span>July 26th, 2022<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>  Kaustubh Supekar, Ph.D., examines recent findings about gender\/sex differences in autism phenotypes and brain organization. He highlights the underrepresentation of females in autism and underscores the need for a large-scale science approach. The<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/autism-eating-related-behaviors\/\" aria-label=\"Autism and Eating-Related Behaviors\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_300472406-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Overweight boy at table with fast food in kitchen\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_300472406-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_300472406-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_300472406-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-10-17T17:00:47-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/autism-eating-related-behaviors\/\">Autism and Eating-Related Behaviors<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/autismadmin\/\" title=\"Posts by autismAdmin\" rel=\"author\">autismAdmin<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2025-10-17T17:00:47-05:00<\/span><span>June 14th, 2022<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/adults-on-the-spectrum\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Adults on the Spectrum<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/assessment\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Assessment<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/genetics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Genetics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/neurological\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Neurological<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/webinar\/research-webinar\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/webinars\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Webinar<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>  Gregory Wallace, Ph.D., discusses eating-related behaviors in autism. He examines potential drivers of food neophobia and presents novel studies on the cognitive\/behavioral correlates of eating in the absence of hunger (EAH). Wallace defines<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/job-losses-during-covid-increase-depression-in-adults-with-asd\/\" aria-label=\"Job losses, cuts in hours or pay during COVID increase depression in adults with ASD\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AdobeStock_356649791-1-700x441.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"Close-up of a woman wearing a white mask, looking outside through a window\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201707%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271707%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AdobeStock_356649791-1-700x441.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AdobeStock_356649791-1-320x202.jpeg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AdobeStock_356649791-1-700x441.jpeg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-04-28T17:40:14-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/job-losses-during-covid-increase-depression-in-adults-with-asd\/\">Job losses, cuts in hours or pay during COVID increase depression in adults with ASD<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-04-28T17:40:14-05:00<\/span><span>February 8th, 2022<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/covid-19\/\" rel=\"category tag\">COVID-19<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/research\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Research<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>   A new study indicates that rates of depression rise significantly in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) if they experience a job loss or reduction in hours or pay. \u201cThough unemployment has<\/p><\/div><\/article><article class=\"post fusion-column column col col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4\"><div class=\"fusion-flexslider fusion-flexslider-loading flexslider flexslider-hover-type-none\"><ul class=\"slides\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/editorial-needed-a-standard-battery-of-assessments\/\" aria-label=\"Editorial\u2014Needed: A Standard Battery of Assessments\" class=\"hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/puzzle-cropped-700x441.jpg\" class=\"attachment-recent-posts size-recent-posts lazyload\" alt=\"People holding up puzzle pieces with different words written on them\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271669%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202560%201669%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272560%27%20height%3D%271669%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/puzzle-cropped-700x441.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/puzzle-cropped-320x202.jpg 320w, https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/puzzle-cropped-700x441.jpg 700w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"recent-posts-content\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-09-11T10:34:36-05:00<\/span><h4 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/editorial-needed-a-standard-battery-of-assessments\/\">Editorial\u2014Needed: A Standard Battery of Assessments<\/a><\/h4><p class=\"meta\"><span class=\"vcard\" style=\"display: none;\"><span class=\"fn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/author\/melanie\/\" title=\"Posts by Melanie Glock\" rel=\"author\">Melanie Glock<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"updated\" style=\"display:none;\">2024-09-11T10:34:36-05:00<\/span><span>July 21st, 2020<\/span><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a><span class=\"fusion-inline-sep\">|<\/span><\/p><p>    Currently, there is no shortage of assessments for children or adults with autism. In fact, dozens of such assessments are in use today. However, I believe there is a clear need<\/p><\/div><\/article><\/section><\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,3781,21,3933,5199,24],"tags":[4883,4863,4648,6743,9663],"class_list":["post-15812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adults-on-the-spectrum","category-anxiety","category-autism-spectrum-disorders","category-research-webinar","category-self-care","category-webinar","tag-assessment","tag-autism-diagnosis","tag-diagnosis","tag-diagnosis-matters","tag-women-diagnosis","webinar-author-gray-atherton-phd"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Age - and Age of Diagnosis - Affect Quality of Life - Autism Research Institute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Gray Atherton, PhD shares updates about emerging research on how age and age of diagnosis affect quality of life.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Age - and Age of Diagnosis - Affect Quality of Life\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Gray Atherton, PhD shares updates about emerging research on how age and age of diagnosis affect quality of life.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Autism Research Institute\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/autismresearchinstitute\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-05-02T20:25:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-21T22:00:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_120494780.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"5000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"3300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"autismAdmin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ariConference\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ariConference\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"autismAdmin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/autism.org\/age-and-diagnosis\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"autismAdmin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/autism.org\/#\/schema\/person\/26ad828eeaab2fed770658de3e543083\"},\"headline\":\"How Age &#8211; 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