This video is about autism self-diagnosis/self-identification. The main focus is to briefly overview research on self-diagnosed autistic individuals, to discuss what happens if self-diagnosis ends up being incorrect (e.g. if the individual actually has another form of neurodivergence), and to go through other common objections to autism self-diagnosis.

In part because of this, the video is particularly focused on the case where self-identification ends up being incorrect (or is perceived to be incorrect), as well as research assessing the accuracy of self-diagnosis via comparisons to formally diagnosed autistic individuals.

References:

1.) Brosnan M. An Exploratory Study of a Dimensional Assessment of the Diagnostic Criteria for Autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020 Nov;50(11):4158-4164. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04474-8. PMID: 32219635; PMCID: PMC7557478.

2.) McDonald TAM. Autism Identity and the "Lost Generation": Structural Validation of the Autism Spectrum Identity Scale (ASIS) and Comparison of Diagnosed and Self-Diagnosed Adults on the Autism Spectrum. Autism Adulthood. 2020 Mar 11;2(1):13-23. doi: 10.1089/aut.2019.0069. Epub 2020 Feb 26. PMID: 34485832; PMCID: PMC8415774.

3.) Mandy W, Midouhas E, Hosozawa M, Cable N, Sacker A, Flouri E. Mental health and social difficulties of late-diagnosed autistic children, across childhood and adolescence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022 Nov;63(11):1405-1414. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13587. Epub 2022 Feb 16. PMID: 35174492; PMCID: PMC9790627.

00:00-5:07: Intro and hypothetical scenario

5:08-8:26: Barriers to formal diagnosis

8:27-10:40 : Self-understanding and finding community

10:41-16:13 : What if a self-diagnosis is inaccurate?

16:14-23:12 : What if someone uses autism as an excuse?