AuDHD: Diagnosis Delayed

Autism and ADHD often co-occur and present differently in females than the standard diagnostic criteria, which is mainly based on the observation of young white males. Women frequently go undiagnosed until adulthood, if they ever receive a diagnosis at all.

This book relates recent research to the personal struggles of one woman who was diagnosed with Autism in her late thirties and then ADHD in her early forties. She found her way to diagnosis through a common route, studying psychology. Many Autistic people study psychology only to find out later that they were searching for ways to understand the socially complex world around them.

Feeling like an alien having been dropped off at birth and desperate to fit in, they study those around them in an attempt to learn the ways of these humans. Secretly, they long for the mothership to return and beam them up and away to their home planet. A sanctuary where individuals no longer have to endure the relentless struggle of barely passing as human and facing constant ridicule.

They learn from a very early age to put on a mask so they do not make others uncomfortable. They mimic other girls or characters to try to fit in. Usually, they can sneak by until a significant life change, like high school, college, entering the workforce, or having their first child. Then all the rules, masks, and rituals fail them. They burn out or shut down. Some may drop out of school, quit, or are fired over and over, not understanding what they are doing wrong. Living in a world that was not built for them takes its toll.

You may find solace, connection, or education in these pages. Whether you are reading for yourself or to better understand a loved one, there is something for you here.