De ontwikkeling van een diagnose: zestig jaar autisme 1960-2020

This study provides insight into sixty years of autism diagnostics in the Netherlands. The historical changes in the period of 1960-2020 were investigated on the basis of seven factors, including the age of diagnosis, intelligence and type of diagnostician. The data are derived from participants (n = 2643) of the Dutch Autism Register (NAR: Nederlands Autisme Register), a longitudinal register, in which people with autism are followed over time. They were divided into cohorts based on the decade between 1960 and 2020 in which they were diagnosed. All participants whose birthday and age of diagnosis age were eligible for the study. The most important changes concern the age of diagnosis and the increase in the number of women with ASD. In addition, the concept of diagnosis has been broadened significantly. Autism is a classification of behavioural characteristics and is a part of a broad diagnostic process necessary for responsible counselling and treatment.