Autism, ADHD, Neurodivergence, Diagnosis and Support — What’s New in August
In this research roundup, Ann Memmott brings together recent August papers exploring Autism, ADHD and Neurodivergence. The studies examine diagnosis and underdiagnosis, self-identification, quality of life, sensory needs, accessibility, the experiences of underrepresented groups, and ethical questions around support and interventions—highlighting the importance of listening to Neurodivergent people, respecting their autonomy, and creating environments where they can participate and thrive.
So, are Autism and ADHD overdiagnosed? No.
In my view, the media has been publishing article after article and video after video, suggesting that ADHD and Autism are diagnosed too often, amongst other extraordinary claims.
Fortunately, research teams have been working hard to look at the facts, rather than the strange fiction that seemingly sells newspapers these days.
Moseley and team are clear that we are still missing large numbers of Autistic and ADHD people from diagnosis, and indeed support. The results of ensuring struggle and failure are higher costs for society, not savings. The work is still having final changes and checks made, but has been released early as a preprint, as per below.
Where global prevalence of Autism and ADHD is assumed stable, increasing incidence of referrals, referral requests and recorded diagnoses have evoked concerns that Autism and ADHD are overdiagnosed, i.e. that diagnoses are bestowed without sufficient justification to individuals who might be incentivised to seek diagnosis. While there is presently little evidence to support these assertions, methodological limitations demonstrably contribute to the systematic under-detection of certain sub-groups, like older adults, marginalized minorities and people assigned female at birth, within these diagnostic categories. As such, rising demand for Autism and ADHD diagnosis can be understood in light of historic underdiagnosis.
While strains on diagnostic systems require urgent solutions, failure to diagnose legitimate cases precludes provision of appropriate support and has severe individual and socioeconomic repercussions. Given the limitations which underlie current prevalence estimates, we draw attention to the equally problematic issue of underdiagnosis and the accompanying individual and societal costs this brings.
Moseley, R., Barker, M., Yehuda, S. B., Belcher, H., Benatov, J., Botha, M., Cassidy, S., French, B., Gal, E., Grant, A., Hedley, D., John, A., Kapp, S. K., Kirby, A. V., Lai, M., Murray, A. L., Newell, V., O’Nions, E., Parsons, T., … Stewart, G. R. (2026). Autism and ADHD prevalence estimates: balancing concerns about overdiagnosis with the history of under-detection. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/qte5z_v1
Late diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD. Does it still help many people? Yes.
Another strange claim in some media at present is that there’s no point diagnosing people later in life. Occasionally, we see the odd view that if they’ve made it to this point without managing to get a diagnosis, it can’t be ‘real Autism/ADHD’, or it can’t be that important. Whilst individual choice in this is vital, of course, the belief that there’s no point doing so is deeply problematic. So, French and team studied the value and challenges of diagnosis in adult years:
In the United Kingdom, more than 2.5 million adults with undiagnosed neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism and ADHD often struggle to access diagnosis and support. This study aimed to explore the experiences of adults receiving a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD later in life and how the lack of diagnosis affected them.
The research involved interviews with 7 health care professionals and 13 late-diagnosed adults (5 Autistic, 5 with ADHD, and 3 with both)…
… These findings reinforce the benefits that can come with early diagnosis, through understanding, finding a community, and better mental health. The study also highlights the potential drawbacks of this and can help Autistic adults, as well as health care professionals, understand the process of diagnosis and its potential impact (negative or positive). It can help Autistic adults prepare themselves for the diagnosis process by further understanding what it might mean and how it would impact them, giving them more information.
French, B., & Cassidy, S. (2024). “Going Through Life on Hard Mode”—The Experience of Late Diagnosis of Autism and/or ADHD: A Qualitative Study. Autism in Adulthood, 8(1), 127–136. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0085
Is self-identity as Autistic/ADHD valid? What does genetics tell us?
Another claim in some of the media is that self-identity as Autistic and/or ADHD is just nonsense, based on nothing more than watching TikTok and thinking it’s fashionable in some way. So, again, a very experienced team of researchers have taken a look at this. The people who strongly suspect they are ADHD/Autism are generally showing the same genetic ‘markers’ as the people who get a formal diagnosis, it seems. Whilst not everyone is able to get a diagnosis, and not everyone wants one (for a variety of good reasons), again this research shows some reality, rather than seemingly fanciful opinion-articles in some outlets:
Thousands of adults suspect they are Autistic or have ADHD without a formal diagnosis… Adults who suspect they are Autistic or have ADHD show polygenic profiles closely resembling those of individuals diagnosed with the condition in late childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. Suspected and diagnosed groups are similar in most [genetic results] …These findings support prioritising diagnostic access and neurodevelopmentally-informed support for adults who suspect they may be Neurodivergent.
Alhadeff, A., Zhao, Y., Perry, L., He, Y., Ma, Q., Baron-Cohen, S., & Warrier, V. (2026). Adults who suspect they may be autistic or have ADHD show corresponding neurodevelopmental polygenic effects. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.03.26359559
Fatherhood, race, and Autism: A scoping review of Black and Latino fathers’ experiences
Not a lot is researched about the experiences of Black and Latino fathers. Good to see this work by Williams and team:
While Autism research has strongly focused on mothers, fathers play an important role in supporting Autistic children. The experiences of Black and Latino fathers, who often face additional challenges linked to racism, cultural expectations, and unequal access to services, are not well understood.
To help fill this gap, we reviewed all available studies published between 2010 and 2025 that included Black or Latino fathers of Autistic children. We found only 25 studies, indicating this topic remains greatly under-researched. Most studies used interviews or focus groups, giving fathers the chance to share their personal experiences.
Many described strong emotional reactions when first learning about their child’s diagnosis, including shock, sadness, and sometimes denial. Cultural beliefs about masculinity and fatherhood sometimes shaped how they processed the diagnosis or sought support. Over time, many Black and Latino fathers reported becoming more patient, involved, and emotionally connected with their children. They often faced major barriers when navigating schools, healthcare settings, and community services. Some described racial bias, limited language access, or feeling dismissed by professionals.
Despite these challenges, fathers expressed deep love for their children and a strong desire to advocate for their needs. Fathers’ well‑being was influenced by several factors, including support from partners, extended family, spirituality, and opportunities to learn more about Autism. Overall, this review shows that Black and Latino fathers are active, committed caregivers, but their perspectives remain overlooked in research and practice. More studies are needed to understand their experiences and develop services that truly reflect the cultural and structural realities their families face.
Williams, E. G., Medrano, A. S., Roberts, J. D., Latin, A., Lopez, A., Ganu, D., Vakil, F., & Ware, L. (2026). Fatherhood, race, and autism: A scoping review of Black and Latino fathers’ experiences. Research in Autism, 137, Article 202974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reia.2026.202974
Autistic adolescents and quality of life (QoL)
Listening to what Autistic individuals need is the foundation of nearly all recent progress in this field. Ambrose and team asked Autistic adolescents what actually improved their quality of life:
We identified five themes reflecting the priorities of Autistic adolescents: being understood and accepted, connecting deeply with others, engaging in strengths and passions to experience achievement and develop self-worth, having agency to manage their own needs, and being consulted and listened to. These themes highlight specific aspects within the broad concept of QoL that are most important for Autistic adolescents…
…This study adds to the conceptualisation of QoL for Autistic children and adolescents by eliciting directly the views of Autistic adolescents. The findings can inform the development of individual supports and increase understanding of Autistic perspectives in research and the community, which better enable Autistic adolescents to live a ‘good life’. Further research should extend this work to include younger Autistic children and those with higher support needs.
Ambrose, K., Simpson, K., Pellicano, E., Heyworth, M., den Houting, J., Roth, J., & Adams, D. (2026). “Support Me to Take the Steps I Need, to Live the Life I Want, in Ways That Work for Me”: Perspectives of Autistic Adolescents on What is Important for Their Quality of Life. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07464-4
Autistic sensory needs and the impact on everyday & social life, academic studies and employment
My view: Sensory barriers (lighting, sound levels or frequencies, etc) are a major problem for many Autistic people, but one that is very often overlooked or disbelieved. The end results tend to be failed employment and volunteering positions, and very little participation in anything outside of the home. Because the difficulties are not immediately visible, some experts believe that people can just overcome them with a bit of resilience. Not dissimilar, in a way, to refusing to let employees wear spectacles, as the boss cannot see their visual difficulties and imagines they can just see better with a bit more effort.
Gričar and team researched what happened in everyday life, for Autistic adolescents and young adults.
…This review suggests that sensory processing challenges profoundly influence occupational participation in young people with ASD, affecting not only their subjective experience but also their access to social, academic, and professional environments. Developing individualized sensory supports and environment adaptations are crucial for promoting meaningful occupational engagement and well-being.
Gričar, N., Bucik, V., & Bratun, U. (2026). Sensory Issues and Occupational Participation in Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism: A Scoping Review. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2026.2718157
Neurodivergence and tourism
My view: So glad that a set of researchers has looked at this. Want to go on holiday, as one of the millions of Neurodivergent people with access needs? There’s almost no information out there from travel and tourism companies. At best, there may be a ‘fun sensory pack’ for a young Autistic person. The other people get nothing.
As an adult researcher asking about Autism accessibility for a site or tour, I've been offered some very strange ‘reasonable adjustments’ by some very major tourism providers, including colouring crayons, and a play on the swings.
Some allegedly ‘disability specialist’ firms seem to think that 100% of disability is catering for wheelchair users. Whilst vital, of course, this is only a small number of the total who are disabled and wish to spend money with the company. A handful of places have thought about access for a particular airport in the UK for some forms of Neurodivergence, but that only gets people onto the plane. What then happens on the plane, at the other airport, and at every stage of the holiday after that, isn’t usually considered. Some firms ask professional access advisers on this topic to work for free, as there’s no budget allocated. It is not seen as important.
All of this can make any sort of holiday, and travel to that holiday at airports or similar, into a undoable nightmare or an endurance course. The tourism industry suffers from the lost future income, and the Neurodivergent people suffer reduced quality of life. Yet most of this is easy to get right, at not a lot of cost.
Conde and team write:
This article examines the inclusion of neurodivergent individuals in tourism, an area that remains understudied..this paper argues that tourism experiences are mainly designed for neurotypical individuals, resulting in sensory, communication, and social barriers that negatively impact the participation of neurodivergent individuals. Using a conceptual approach and integrating biopsychosocial and universal design models, the article proposes a theoretical model that positions neurodiversity as part of human variability, advocating for tourism products and services designed from the outset to meet diverse needs. Practices such as sensory-friendly environments, clear signage, and professional training are highlighted as essential for inclusion. This study highlights gaps in literature, which tends to focus solely on Autism spectrum disorder in childhood and adopt a medical perspective. It emphasizes the importance of active participation by neurodivergent individuals in the tourism development process. It is concluded that advancements in the field require participatory research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional commitment, thereby promoting a structural transformation that fosters true inclusion in tourism.
Conde, A. R., Santos, L., Lopes, L., da Costa Guerra, R. J., & Martins, M. (2026). Towards a New Vision for Tourism: Neurodiverse Inclusion Through Universal Design. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, 199–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-28209-5_18
Dyspraxia (DCD) and lived experiences – what happens and needs to change?
Murray and team look at life for people who have dyspraxia, sometimes now called Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) by professional teams. There are difficulties with physical co-ordination, getting their bodies to plan out a movement or sequence correctly, and with balancing well, amongst other challenges. As we know, despite this affecting some 5-10% of the population, it is rarely considered or tested for, with many left to flounder and fail at endless tasks. Dyspraxia diagnoses often co-exist with diagnoses of ADHD and Autism, amongst other overlaps, adding to the challenges that life presents. What are the experiences of dyspraxic adults, therefore?
Emergent themes highlighted a major lack of societal awareness in all life domains, which often led to participants facing difficulties navigating health, education and workplace systems for support, resulting in relative abandonment and a lack of validation within their lived experience of DCD. Conclusion Individuals with DCD often report feeling alone, isolated and misunderstood in a world which presents challenges for them across all aspects of life. There is an urgent need for the profile of DCD to be raised by insider voices as for many, DCD often transcends diagnostic criteria to wider challenges, for example executive functioning. Fundamentally, more needs to be done to ensure a lifespan approach to DCD, to allow greater opportunities for adults with a diagnosis to thrive alongside their ‘neurotypical’ peers.
Murray, R., E Staniforth, C., & Eddy, L. H. (2026). ‘The world is just so fast, and I’m not fast… it’s just really, really difficult to keep up’: A qualitative exploration of the lived experience of adults with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Plos ONE, 21(5), e350273. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0350273
Do I know you? Face-blindness (Prosopagnosia) and Autistic people
Various informal polls and discussions show that a good number of Autistic people report some (or major) difficulties recognising people they know, from their faces. Ventura and team had looked at this, for example, in 2025. This difficulty gives a huge challenge to keeping and building on good social relationships, as others may imagine that they are being deliberately ignored or treated differently to usual as an act of rudeness. It has been a constant feature of my own life, and presents all manner of challenges in encounters with others, especially if they are all in identical uniforms. Following plots of films becomes quite a quest, especially if the Director has cast almost-identical people in various roles. One becomes heavily reliant on people having the same hairstyle and colour as last time, the same sort of clothing styles, the same spectacles, the same voice tone perhaps. If something changes, I’m no longer sure it’s them. Whilst new face recognition technology might help, it is not without its own ethical and practical challenges.
Greater acknowledgement of this possibility is key to successful support and relationships, for faceblind individuals.
A recent paper by Aronson (2026) talks further about the challenges, which affect some non Autistic people also.
… lasting and irritating subjective uncertainty of face recognition; face recognition deficit especially in crowded places or out-of context encounters; false-negative and false-positive face recognition events; face recognition time longer than socially accepted; prolonged face learning time longer than socially accepted; onset in childhood; development of adaptive behaviour; no gaze contact necessary; use of explicit learning strategies for visual person recognition…
Aronson, J. K. (2026). When I use a word . . . Facial blindness—prosopagnosia. BMJ, 392, s494. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.s494
Ventura, M., Manippa, V., Caffò, A. O., Cicinelli, G., Nobile, E., Keller, R., & Rivolta, D. (2025). Unveiling Face Recognition Challenges and Awareness in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Insights from the Italian Famous Face Test (IT-FFT). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06879-9
ABA team train two Autistic adults to do menial tasks without pay, and bombard one with loud noise
Content warning: ABA, coercion, sensory distress, unpaid labour, food-based compliance, and ethical concerns.
My view: Allegedly, ABA is better, more kind, more collaborative. Is it?
In this brand new research, a team decide to make two Autistic men work for free, doing menial tasks, hour after hour. One of them is e.g. very overwhelmed by background chatter, so they bombard him with an even louder version of this whilst coercing him to do the menial things without complaint or other signs of distress. This is deeply concerning. Coercion for the men including feeding them sugary snacks for compliance. There is no consideration of any impact on health (including dental health) from this.
They do not properly consider assent, human rights, ethics, inclusion, co-design, follow-up, potential adverse effects and long-term harms, or indeed seemingly any modern basics of ethical co-production. The men are not asked about their own hopes for their future or about their quality of life, in ways that would respect their communication needs and processing abilities.
It seems to me that ABA remains as it was, and continues to use deeply problematic belief-systems and ways to define ‘evidence’.
Cicalese, L., Cucinotta, K., Mitteer, D. R., & LaRue, R. (2026). Increasing Task Completion in Autistic Adults While Concurrently Reinforcing Functional Communication and Challenging Behavior. Behavioral Interventions, 41(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70132
