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    A deficit in attention to assessment and supports for adults with ADHD in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Distance, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Tuisaula Cruice, Eden
    Outdated understandings, referral bias, and stereotypes of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) lead to diagnostic delays. Individuals with ADHD struggle with many aspects of life and have an increased risk of poorer outcomes. Many adults living with undiagnosed ADHD will not have access to support to help manage the difficult aspects of ADHD. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, it has been suggested that ADHD assessments are inaccessible. The aim of this research was to examine access to assessment and supports for adults with ADHD/suspected ADHD in Aotearoa by exploring the perceptions and lived experiences of adults diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. This research also sought to explore the impact of late diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and/or missed diagnosis of ADHD on adults in Aotearoa. This research was underpinned by a blend of paradigms, generating a research foundation of a critical neurodiversity paradigm. This blend enabled exploration of the impacts of social structures and the challenging of neuronormative, oppressive structures while centring neurodivergent voices. Hermeneutic phenomenology was utilised to support the centring of lived experience and for its appreciation of researcher lived experience. Following semi structured interviews, Interpretive phenomenological analysis was utilised to interpret the experiences of nine adults with ADHD. Analysis revealed participants were impacted by neuronormativity and ableism which nurtured the development of negative self-perceptions and mental distress. Late diagnosis meant that participants spent their younger years internalising the constant reinforcement of difference and failure in their social environments. Receiving a diagnosis provided participants with self-understanding and connection with people who have similar experiences. The findings also revealed that access to ADHD assessment is dependent on either privilege or crisis. The participants in this study suggested several recommendations to improve ADHD healthcare for themselves and for other people seeking support. The findings of this research have implications for the improvement of policies regarding ADHD, from the perspectives of adults with ADHD.
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    "I feel I'm no longer an alien" : the experiences of females who receive a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition late in life : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2021) Dukes, Stacey Lee
    The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of females who receive a late diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). A growing number of women identify and receive diagnoses of ASC in adulthood after years of unexplained difficulties. However, as societal understandings of ASC are male-dominated, autistic females are underrepresented and frequently diagnosed late, leaving their needs misunderstood. This study aims to provide further insight into women’s lived experiences with ASC to increase awareness of their specific needs. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the accounts of nine females diagnosed with ASC late and the significance this had on their lives. The participants described their experiences prior to and then post-diagnosis. Prior to diagnosis, common barriers included cost, gendered misconceptions, and male-dominated ASC stereotypes. The participants were aware of being different prior to diagnosis and expressed difficulty fitting in, particularly with gendered and social norms. This led to coping strategies such as camouflaging (masking) and often poor coping such as emotional focused coping strategies ultimately, leading to mental distress. Each participant had a unique journey to diagnosis, with three seeking help in their teens, while the remaining women were diagnosed in adulthood. Despite the differences, all the participants went through a period of adjustment and made changes in their lives once they identified as autistic. While these changes were specific to each individual, they were largely positive, including forming connections with the Autism community, adapting to accommodate social challenges and sensory sensitivities, and conducting their own research. The diagnosis was tied to a better sense of self (self-acceptance), a sense of belonging to a community (shared social identity), and an increased awareness of triggers that could lead to meltdowns or autistic burnout. Despite the positive aspects of diagnosis, the participants reported ongoing challenges with socialisation, friendships, understanding social norms around relationships. An important finding in the study is the high level of self-awareness and sociality participants reported. Participants described awareness of the social and communication challenges they face and clearly expressed the impact of the gender expectations and pressures placed on them. Alongside the high level of awareness concerning social and gender expectations, many participants described adopting compensatory strategies to comply with these expectations and mitigate the sense of difference and exclusion they felt. These findings highlight the complexity of navigating identity as acting ‘neurotypical’ and acting like a woman. Lastly, irrespective of age, experiences of stigmatisation related having ASC was mentioned by all the participants, indicating the challenges of living as a marginalised identity. In summary, social representations of ASC are complex as it is largely an invisible condition that presents differently for females. More work needs to be done to increase awareness and acceptance surrounding ASC, particularly the unique way in which ASC presents in females and the effects of gender on the experience of ASC. These findings have implications for clinicians and provide insight into areas where support can be provided to females who receive a late diagnosis of ASC.