Table 5.
Frequency count of subthemes within interview data
| Themes/subthemes | Frequency of interviews | Frequency of theme/subtheme |
|---|---|---|
| Barriers to a diagnosis | 8 | 61 |
| Academic and social success | 7 | 19 |
| Perceptions and Stigma | 6 | 24 |
| Gender (for females) | 4 | 6 |
| Long, difficult process | 5 | 12 |
| Negatives of a non-diagnosis | 8 | 60 |
| Feeling like an alien | 3 | 6 |
| Not fitting in | 7 | 13 |
| Bullying/exclusion | 4 | 7 |
| Masking/camouflaging | 8 | 22 |
| Mental health strains | 6 | 12 |
| Benefits of a diagnosis | 8 | 74 |
| Understanding, acceptance | 8 | 32 |
| Finding a missing piece | 2 | 4 |
| Empowering | 7 | 23 |
| Counselling | 7 | 15 |
| Two sides of a diagnosis | 8 | 32 |
| Challenges as well as benefits | 6 | 10 |
| Complacency, labelling | 7 | 22 |