An investigation of adherence to best practice guidelines for autism diagnosis in New Zealand.

Day et al. (2021) asked New Zealand clinicians how closely they follow autism diagnosis guidelines. They sent a survey to doctors and psychologists who assess autism. The team wanted to see where practice drifts from the rule book.

Questions covered all ages, but the paper zooms in on teens, adults, and what happens after the diagnosis meeting.

Clinicians admitted they use the guidelines unevenly. Pathways for children exist, but steps for adolescents and adults are shaky. Almost everyone agreed that post-diagnosis support is the weakest link—no clear next steps for families.

Evans et al. (2022) extend these results by asking autistic adults the same question. Adults liked the early assessment but also slammed the lack of follow-up services. Together, the two surveys show both sides pointing to the same hole.

Huang et al. (2020) scoping review predicted this mess. Their worldwide scan already flagged inconsistent adult pathways and poor post-diagnosis care. The NZ data simply confirm the forecast with local numbers.

Half a world away, Lineberry et al. (2023) found fewer than 40% of UK adults get any support within a year of diagnosis. The echo across countries suggests the gap is not a Kiwi quirk—it’s a global blind spot.

If you work with autistic teens or adults, expect patchy referral routes and little after-care. Build your own bridge: schedule a follow-up visit within one month of a new diagnosis, hand the family a written plan, and keep a list of local adult services. One month of structure beats a year of silence.