Dr. Caroline Buzanko

🧩 Is it hard to differentiate between autism and ADHD? And giftedness?  

🧩 Do you know what other conditions can mimic autism and how to tell them apart?

🧩 Do you know how to detect the subtle signs of autism in females? 

🧩 Do you know what assessment tools are most appropriate for girls? 

🧩 Do you worry about misdiagnosing a child or missing a diagnosis altogether?

If you have ever felt stuck when assessing a child for autism and/or ADHD, this training is for you. 

Differential Diagnosis is Complex 

There is no lab test for autism – the diagnosis is given after careful observation of symptoms and behaviours.

However, how can you tell if someone has autism if they have become experts at masking their autistic traits?

How can you tell if the autism symptoms are actually something else? (After all, autism overlaps with, and is often overshadowed by, other conditions.)

Unfortunately, the growing number of autism misdiagnosis cases is becoming a major cause for concern.

Professionals who do not understand these subtleties and how they present across populations, or how they differentiate from other diagnoses with overlapping symptoms, perpetuate the problem.

There is a widespread unfamiliarity with the subtle presentation of autism which can be easily mistaken for other mental health and behavioral disorders that share similar characteristics.

Additionally, many professionals are trained in diagnosing autism using assessments and diagnostic criteria that are based on male samples. Without understanding the female presentation, their autism is overlooked or misdiagnosed.

When anyone is treated for something they don’t have (or don’t get support for challenges they do have), they struggle to adapt. They (and their families!) are left to feel stressed and overwhelmed. 

Without a proper diagnosis, children and teens are at increased risk of depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and self-harm.