What Systemic Barriers Contribute to Delayed Autism Diagnoses in Adults?

PostedNovember 6, 2025

UpdatedNovember 6, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

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

Systemic barriers in adult autism diagnosis are significant obstacles that contribute to delayed recognition and diagnosis of autism in adults. These barriers are largely rooted in gaps in access to diagnostic services, insufficient awareness of autism in adulthood, and challenges in the diagnostic process itself. As a result, many adults go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years, leading to difficulties in managing daily life and accessing appropriate support.

One of the most prominent barriers is healthcare access. In many cases, adults with autism may not have a direct path to diagnosis, especially if they’ve never been assessed as children. Furthermore, service gaps in adult autism services, especially in areas with fewer trained professionals, mean that even when individuals seek help, the available services are often overwhelmed. This leads to long waitlists and sometimes inadequate support, contributing to significant diagnosis delay.

How Systemic Barriers Affect Diagnosis

This is how systemic barriers affect diagnosis:

Lack of Adult-Focused Services:

Most autism services are geared toward children, leaving a gap in adult-focused diagnostic tools and support systems. Adults with autism often have difficulty finding appropriate specialists for diagnosis and treatment.

Limited Awareness in Healthcare Settings:

Many healthcare providers are not adequately trained to recognise autism in adults, especially in women or those who have developed masking behaviours. This results in misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses.

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.