Exploring the Camouflaging Experiences of Early-Diagnosed Autistic Females
Camouflaging refers to both behavioural and cognitive strategies used by autistic individuals to hide their autistic traits. These strategies are often intended to help autistic people adapt to social norms and fit in with their neurotypical peers. Camouflaging is a key factor of the female autism phenotype, as such strategies are more commonly employed by autistic girls and women; however, most camouflaging research has particularly revolved around late-diagnosed autistic women. To address the gap of knowledge regarding camouflaging in autistic girls and women diagnosed earlier in life, the current study aimed to explore the camouflaging experiences of early-diagnosed autistic women (i.e., women who were diagnosed during or before their kindergarten year). The findings were then compared to the existing literature on camouflaging in late-diagnosed autistic women. Four early-diagnosed autistic women participated in semi-structured interviews that were then analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. A cross-analysis of personal experiential themes generated seven group experiential themes which highlighted similarities and distinctions in participant experiences. These themes highlight participants’ motivations for camouflaging and its’ impacts while capturing how participants have made sense of their camouflaging experiences from childhood and into adulthood. These findings amplify the voices of early-diagnosed autistic women, offering important clinical implications and directions for future research.
Camouflaging, autism, early-diagnosis, female autism phenotype, diagnostic timing, qualitative research
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