Challenges Autistic and ADHD People Face in Healthcare and What Can Help
Research tells us that there are a range of barriers to accessing and receiving healthcare for autistic and ADHD people, at all stages across an individual’s life (Malik-Soni et al., 2022; Young et al., 2021). Autism and ADHD are both associated with lower life expectancies (Doherty et al., 2022; Vilar-Ribó et al., 2023) and we are more likely to experience chronic mental health and physical health conditions, though the quality of healthcare we receive is reportedly lower (Weir et al., 2022).
As with previous posts in this series - ‘Challenges Autistic People and ADHDers Face in Therapy and What Can Help’, ‘Challenges Autistic and ADHD Children Face at School and What Can Help’, and ‘Challenges Autistic and ADHD People Face at Work and What Can Help’ - I asked autistic people and ADHDers about the challenges they face when accessing or receiving healthcare, and what helps or would help them. I received over 1500 replies on Instagram and Twitter (or X). Thank you to everyone who contributed to this.
These are the most common challenges that autistic and ADHD people reported they face in healthcare, in order of how common they were. I choose to combine autism and ADHD because many of us are both autistic and ADHD, and many of our challenges overlap.
It was sad to see the number of people who responded with just wanting to be believed or taken seriously. There was also a staggering number reporting not being able to book appointments without making a phone call - something many autistic people find very difficult.
I then asked autistic and ADHD people to share what would help them to access healthcare. These were the most common responses.
It is often not that difficult to make small adjustments that can drastically reduce barriers to accessing things such as healthcare. I am grateful to have received care from nurses, physiotherapists and other professionals who have made my experience much easier at times.
Autistic and ADHD people are entitled to reasonable adjustments, and it is important that healthcare professionals are properly trained in autism/ADHD and neurodivergence, so we can receive the care we need.
What has helped you to access healthcare?
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References:
Doherty, M. et al. (2022). Barriers to healthcare and self-reported adverse outcomes for autistic adults: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 12, e056904. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056904
Malik-Soni et al. (2022). Tackling healthcare access barriers for individuals with autism from diagnosis to adulthood. Pediatric Research, 91(5), 1028-1035. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01465-y
Vilar-Ribó, L. et al. (2023). Shared genetic architecture between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and lifespan. Neuropsychopharmacology, 48, 981-990. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-023-01555-x
Weir, E., Allison, C. & Baron-Cohen, S. (2022). Autistic adults have poorer quality healthcare and worse health based on self-report data. Molecular Autism, 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00501-w
Young, S. et al. (2021). Failure of healthcare provision for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the United Kingdom: a consensus statement. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.649399