Four Newcastle residents share their journey as adults being diagnosed with ADHD or autism

Penelope Green
Updated August 15 2022 - 9:23am, first published August 14 2022 - 5:30am
Clarity: When my [ADHD] diagnosis was confirmed it was an an enlightening moment as it explained so many of my idiosyncrasies and struggles throughout my life," says Claire Flynn, with her puppy Peggy at home. Picture: Simone De Peak
Clarity: When my [ADHD] diagnosis was confirmed it was an an enlightening moment as it explained so many of my idiosyncrasies and struggles throughout my life," says Claire Flynn, with her puppy Peggy at home. Picture: Simone De Peak

Comedians Hannah Gadsby and Josh Thomas and musician Alex The Astronaut are autistic. Authors Em Rusciano and Clementine Ford have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). What these celebrities have in common is that they all found out as adults that they are neurodivergent. In 2018, Autism Spectrum Australia revised its prevalence rates for autism from one in 100 to one in 70, and ASA says there is "anecdotal evidence" that suggests more people are being diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. Around 1 in every 20 Australians has ADHD, and it is more common in boys. We chat to four Hunter residents who also received diagnoses in their adulthood.

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Penelope Green

Penelope Green

Journalist, Newcastle Herald

Business, news and feature reporter.

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