Introduction: Autistic adults experience poorer physical and mental health, higher suicide rates and shorter life expectancy than the population average. Non-binary people also experience health disparities, and this study examines the impact of barriers on people who are both non-binary and autistic.
Objectives: This study assessed the degree to which non-binary autistic adults experienced additional barriers to primary health care.
Method: An on-line survey was completed by 507 autistic adults. 17% of respondents who stated their gender identified as non-binary.
Results: Non-binary respondents were more likely to have difficulty accessing GP care, to change GP, and to have communication difficulties, particularly verbal communication. Non-binary respondents were more likely to have mental health difficulties and mobility needs. They were more likely to have experienced untreated mental and physical ill-health, untreated serious illness and reduced attendance for screening. They were less likely to have a spouse, parent or other family member available to support GP or hospital visits.
Conclusion: Autistic people experience barriers accessing primary health care. Non-binary people experience greater difficulty, constituting a group requiring additional, specific support. The sizeable proportion of non-binary respondents indicates a need for doctors to be aware of sex- and gender-specific health issues when treating autistic people.