Late autism diagnosis in adulthood: experiences of invisibility and reinterpretation in Chile

In recent decades, significant advances in early autism diagnosis have improved developmental outcomes and quality of life in childhood. However, this progress contrasts with a persistent gap in adulthood, where many individuals receive a diagnosis only after years of unrecognized differences shaped by gender bias, social camouflaging, and psychiatric comorbidities.

This study aimed to understand the experiences and life trajectories of autistic adults in Chile who received a diagnosis in adulthood.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with autistic adults (n = 22, aged 23-47). Data were coded using AtlasTi using a reflexive thematic analysis to explore how participants interpreted and experienced late diagnosis.

Four interrelated themes were identified: prolonged misdiagnosis and lack of information, normalization of autistic traits and masking, grief and biographical reinterpretation, and workplace challenges linked to self-care.

Findings suggest that late diagnosis is not merely a clinical event but a relational and identity-transforming process. While diagnosis often entails grief, exhaustion, and recognition of past exclusion, it also enables self-understanding, redefinition of personal history, and engagement in supportive and activist communities. These results underscore the need for adult-oriented diagnostic pathways and policies that integrate social, cultural, and occupational dimensions across the life course.