Christine Wu Nordahl, a UC Davis professor and autism expert, joins Mary HK Choi, an author who was diagnosed with autism in her 40s, and Holden Thorp, an editor who discovered his diagnosis at 53. They discuss the rising autism diagnosis rates and the often overlooked experiences of women and adults on the spectrum. The guests share insights on the complexity of neurodiversity, the impact of late diagnoses, and the importance of supportive environments. They also address societal narratives that often paint autism negatively, emphasizing thriving within the spectrum.
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insights INSIGHT
Autism Spectrum Diversity
Autism is a spectrum ranging from profound intellectual disability to highly successful individuals.
Core features tying the spectrum are social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors.
insights INSIGHT
Asperger's Removed From DSM-5
Asperger's diagnosis was removed in DSM-5 and folded into autism spectrum disorder.
The distinction was mainly language development delay, but it is difficult to assess retrospectively.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Holden Thorp's Late Diagnosis
Holden Thorp received autism diagnosis at 53 after 360 review revealed social communication differences.
He has since embraced his diagnosis and publicly shared about his neurodivergence to foster understanding.
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Autism spectrum disorder can be found in 2.2% of the population, but for women and girls, as well as many adults, autism is a diagnosis that is often missed. We look into who is underdiagnosed and why — and how our conceptions of autism and neurodivergence are changing. As Trump’s health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. portrays autism as a “tragedy,” we’ll talk about ways in which many people with autism are living and thriving.
Guests:
Mary HK Choi, author and editor, she recently wrote The Cut article "I Was Diagnosed With Autism in My 40s. It Gave Me a Lot of Answers."
Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief, Science family of journals; Thorp is the former provost of Washington University and prior to that was chancellor at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His recent guest essay in the New York Times is titled "I Was Diagnosed with Autism at 53. I Know Why Rates Are Rising."
Christine Wu Nordahl, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UC Davis; Nordahl is the Director of the Autism Phenome Project and the Beneto Foundation Endowed Chair at the MIND Institute
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