Real-World Experiences in Autistic Adult Diagnostic Services and Post-diagnostic Support and Alignment with Services Guidelines: Results from the ASDEU Study
María Luisa Scattoni, Martina Micai, Antonio Ciaramella, Tommaso Salvitti, Francesca Fulceri, Laura Maria Fatta, Luise Poustka, Robert Diehm, Георги Искров, Румен Стефанов, Quentin Guillon, Bernadette Rogé, Anthony Staines, Mary Rose Sweeney, Andrew Boilson, Þóra Leósdóttir, Evald Sæmundsen, Irma Moilanen, Hanna Ebeling, Anneli Yliherva, Mika Gissler, Tarja Parviainen, Pekka Tani, Rafał Kawa, Astrid M. Vicente, Célia Rasga, Magdalena Budișteanu, I R Dale, Carol Povey, Noelia Flores, Cristina Jenaro Río, Maria Luisa Monroy, Patricia García Primo, Tony Charman, Susanne Cramer, Christine Kloster Warberg, Ricardo Canal‐Bedia, Manuel Posada de la Paz, Diana Schendel
Abstract
Research providing an evidence-base for autistic adult services is sparse. The Autism Spectrum Disorders in the European Union (ASDEU) network implemented an on-line survey to determine gaps in autistic adult diagnostic evaluation and post-diagnostic support services. More than 55% in all groups experienced most of the recommended features for diagnostic evaluation for autistic adults. In contrast, < 2% of adults or carers, and < 21% of professionals experienced each of the recommended features for post-diagnostic support. In contrast to 61% of professionals, only about 30% of autistic adults and carers had knowledge of good local services models for autism diagnosis in adulthood. There are major differences between good practice guidelines for diagnostic and post-diagnostic care for autistic adults, and what is actually experienced by services users and professionals.