Helpful or harmful? A scoping review of perceptions and outcomes of autism diagnostic disclosure to others

37 studies, and a gap: people told about a diagnosis think disclosure helps; autistic people deciding whether to disclose are wary.

Thompson-Hodgetts, S., Labonte, C., Mazumder, R. & Phelan, S. (2020). Helpful or harmful? A scoping review of perceptions and outcomes of autism diagnostic disclosure to others. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 77, 101598.

Type

Journal article

Find it

doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101598

Checked

Against the abstract, 15 September 2026

Why it is on the list

Studies of other people’s views, mostly using vignettes, found disclosure improved acceptance. Studies of autistic adolescents and adults found reluctance and fear of stigma. The review also notes the field’s own assumption that disclosure should happen. Week 10 teaches this disagreement as the central fact, rather than picking a side.