Getting the wrong diagnosis

Sometimes, autistic people don’t get an autism diagnosis, and we might get diagnosed with other disabilities instead. Sometimes, we also have these disabilities, but other times, doctors are just confused. They might not realize we are autistic.

Women and people of color get the wrong diagnosis the most, and get diagnosed with other disabilities instead.
Some of these other disabilities are:

  • Deafness
  • Schizophrenia
  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Avoidant Personality Disorder
  • Schizotypal Personality Disorder
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  • Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
  • Nonverbal Learning Disorder
  • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Depression
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Intellectual Disability

Autistic people can have disabilities besides autism. But some doctors don’t know a lot about autism, and might say we have these disabilities instead of autism. Doctors can be wrong.

Anyone can be autistic. Girls, women, transgender people, and non-binary people can be autistic. People of color can be autistic. Teenagers, adults, and older people can be autistic. People with other disabilities can also be autistic.