How Does Diagnostic Overshadowing Autism Affect Physical Health?

PostedNovember 7, 2025

UpdatedNovember 7, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Beatrice Holloway, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Diagnostic overshadowing and physical health are often interconnected in ways that can result in missed or delayed diagnoses, especially for autistic adults. When autism traits dominate the diagnostic process, other physical or mental health conditions may be overlooked, leading to delayed care and exacerbating underlying issues. This phenomenon can have a significant impact on overall well-being, particularly when comorbidity impact is not adequately addressed.

How Diagnostic Overshadowing Impacts Physical Health

For adults with autism, diagnostic overshadowing occurs when physical health issues are mistakenly attributed solely to autism traits. This can prevent the identification of conditions like thyroid imbalances, diabetes, or digestive disorders that commonly occur alongside autism. As a result, individuals might not receive proper care for these underlying conditions.

Missed conditions:

Health issues like high blood pressure or vitamin deficiencies can go unnoticed due to the focus on autism symptoms.

Delayed care:

Healthcare providers may not take the time to look beyond autism to address other medical conditions, thus prolonging the time it takes for individuals to receive the care they need.

To avoid the co-ocurence of diagnostic overshadowing, individuals with autism can take proactive steps to ensure that all aspects of their health are properly assessed. Advocacy for comprehensive healthcare, such as requesting additional tests or specialist referrals, is vital. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can also be beneficial in helping manage the emotional challenges that arise from dealing with these overlapping health issues.

For personalised support, visit providers like Autism Detect for personal consultations tailored to your needs.

For a deeper dive into the science, diagnosis, and full treatment landscape, read our complete guide to late diagnosis in adults.

Beatrice Holloway, MSc

Author

Beatrice Holloway is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She specialises in CBT, psychological testing, and applied behaviour therapy, working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delays, and learning disabilities, as well as adults with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, and substance use disorders. Holloway creates personalised treatment plans to support emotional regulation, social skills, and academic progress in children, and delivers evidence-based therapy to improve mental health and well-being across all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.