Self-Diagnosis

The process of identifying oneself as having a condition or disability based on personal research and self-assessment rather than through formal clinical evaluation. Self-diagnosis is particularly prevalent and controversial in ADHD and autism communities, where diagnostic barriers—including cost, long wait times, gender and racial biases in diagnostic criteria, and shortage of qualified clinicians—leave many people without access to formal assessment. While self-diagnosis can be an important first step toward seeking support and community, it also carries risks including misidentification and exposure to misinformation. The debate around self-diagnosis reflects broader tensions between medical gatekeeping and disability self-advocacy.