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Christine McGuinness: TV star ‘trying to be a little more herself’ after ‘astonishing’ diagnosis of autism | UK News

TV star Christine McGuinness has told Sky News she’s trying to be a little more herself after being “incredibly” diagnosed with autism at the age of 33.

She’s one of the few celebrities lauded by campaigners for speaking about making discovery later in life – as doctors say thousands of women and girls with autism say. century is still being misdiagnosed.

During the filming of her new documentary, Our Family And Autism, Christine began to question more deeply about her own experiences.

Christine McGuinness
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Christine McGuinness talks to Sky News about when she received a diagnosis of autism

She started making the movie, along with her husband Paddy McGuinness, to talk about their experiences raising their three children – all with autism.

But as the project continued, she began to see more similarities to her own experiences growing up.

Christine told Sky News: “I always felt different. And I always felt very similar to the kids.” “I really struggled to fit in. I became quite reclusive – in my 20s, I was at home, at home pretty much for about eight years.”

“Food is always a big deal. The senses around food – taste, smell, texture. In busy places, shopping, events, everything. I always find it really overwhelming. “

As part of the documentary, she and her husband decided to take a test that measures different autistic traits. The results, she said, were not a complete surprise. She scored above average.

It resulted in her receiving a diagnosis of autosuggestion at the age of 33.

“It was an incredible thing for me to get that diagnosis,” she said.

“I’m trying to be a little more myself, I’m trying to relax and accept this is me, this is me. I want people with autism to feel comfortable in their own skin, to be able to do that.”

Paddy McGuinness and his wife Christine share three children, all with autism
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Christine and Paddy have three children, all with autism

Christine is one of the few famous women who have recently spoken about being diagnosed with autism later in life.

She’s also one of thousands of women with autism who experts say are being misdiagnosed, or going undiagnosed at all – because of stereotypes and misconceptions about the condition. disease as well as how it manifests in women.

The National Autistic Society says the ratio of boys and girls diagnosed with autism is about 3 to 1. When girls are diagnosed, it can often take longer – the average age of diagnosis for girls. For boys it’s 10, but for girls it’s 13.

There are many theories as to why this is so – including that girls may be better able to hide or ‘cover up’ their condition, and that teachers tend to report less on characteristics. of autism in girls.

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Paddy McGuinness: ‘Everyone needs to be educated about autism’

Helen Ellis is another of these women. She first began to feel different when she was a teenager.

At the age of 13, a family vacation to Disneyworld ended when she locked herself in a hotel room while her mother and brother went to the park, feeling her senses completely overwhelmed.

At home, arguments with her brother become constant, as she struggles to understand why he can be fun and make friends while she can’t.

It was only at the age of 22 that she was able to receive the diagnosis of autism she had suspected. Five years ago, she visited her GP with the support of her mother, who works as a support teacher for students with behavior problems, and who recognized the signs.

Helen Ellis
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It was only at the age of 22 that Helen Ellis was able to receive the autism diagnosis she had suspected.

But her GP dismissed their concerns – telling Helen it was nothing more than ‘hormones and exam stress’. She left the appointment in tears.

“It was difficult because at that point I started to doubt myself and my mother’s ideas and I thought, maybe he’s right. Maybe it’s just me,” Helen said.

“Maybe I’m just a tough person and for various reasons I can’t control my emotions. Maybe I don’t make friends because I’m not a nice person.”

Dr Sarah Lister Brook, clinical director of the National Autistic Society, said she still sees too many women being misdiagnosed – often leading to mental health problems, by trying to conceal their status and integrate. .

She says persistent stereotypes about the condition – the idea that all people with autism, for example, struggle to make eye contact or will always have difficulty communicating – are damaging and does not take into account the broad spectrum of the condition and how it may manifest differently. .

Dr Lister Brook told Sky News: “Someone evaluating a child may find that the child is quite happy playing with a variety of materials and is quite creative and imaginative. It’s not stereotypical. that most professionals expect to see when they think about autosuggestion, so that can often be confusing.”

She says her key piece of advice for parents who may suspect their daughter has autism is to trust their own instincts. “If you’ve noticed things, if you have concerns, find an expert willing to listen.

“It takes time and it takes a professional with the knowledge and awareness to get that family on track in accessing services. My advice is don’t give up trying.”

Helen is now co-author of a book that draws on her own experience with autism, and explains the ‘masking’ phenomenon – a technique and trick commonly used by women and girls to conceal his condition and improve the situation.

She hopes that educating people in this way will help more women feel that they can live their true selves and no longer have to hide.

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