Autism Diagnosis in Adults with Learning Disabilities V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Value of Autism Diagnosis in Adults with Learning Disabilities
IRAS ID
342728
Contact name
Harriet Wells
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 29 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore the value of receiving a diagnosis of autism during adulthood for people with learning disabilities. Autism and learning disabilities often co-occur. Research has been carried out exploring the impact of a diagnosis of autism in adulthood, but people with learning disabilities have not been included in this. This study aims to explore the impact that a diagnosis of autism in adulthood has on people with a learning disability. The chief investigator plans to interview adults with a learning disability and autism and/or their family members to achieve this. To recruit, staff within a NHS Adult Community Learning Disability Service will be asked to share research posters with their patients and their family members, that meet criteria. Posters will also be put up in trust sites for service users to view. To be eligible to take part the person with a learning disability must have received their autism diagnosis during adulthood and within the last ten years. People will be excluded if they are acutely mentally or physically unwell, if they are unable to consent to take part, or if there are current active safeguarding investigations taking place. If potential participants make contact or give consent to be contacted after having seen one of the posters, they will be provided with an information sheet. If they agree to take part, interviews will be arranged, and participants will be offered the interview guide ahead of time so they can prepare for the interview if they wish. Written consent will be obtained before proceeding with the interview. Both easy-read and non-easy-read versions of the information sheet and consent form will be used depending on the participants accessibility needs. Interviews will last approximately 60 minutes. If this is too long for participants, they will be offered two shorter meetings to complete the interview.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
24/ES/0061
Date of REC Opinion
27 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion