Hannah Belcher

hannah.belcher@pgr.anglia.ac.uk

Research interests

Thesis Title

Autism spectrum disorders in females: late diagnosis - misdiagnosis and the role of social mimicking.

Supervisory Team

Dr Steven Stagg

Dr Ruth Ford

Research Group

Hannah is a member of our Development and Lifespan Group, part of our ARU Centre for Mind and Behaviour.

Summary of Research

Hannah's research looks at the late and often missed diagnoses of females with autism spectrum disorders and the prevalence of misdiagnosis, as well as female-specific coping mechanisms which may mask impairments.

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

February 2014 and December 2015, Ruby and George Will Trust
February 2014 and January 2016,  Yorkshire Ladies Council of Education
February 2014 and December 2015, Burwell Churchlands Charity
February 2014, J. C. Robinson Trust 

May 2014, Organization of Autism Research

Recent presentations and conferences

Belcher, H.L., Stagg, S.D., and Ford, R. (2016) The hidden disorder: Undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder in women. Presented at International Society for Autism Research Meeting, May 2016, Baltimore, USA
Stagg, S.D., and Belcher, H.L. (2016). Receiving a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder after the age of 50. Presented at International Society for Autism Research Meeting, May 2016, Baltimore, USA
Belcher, H.L., Stagg, S.D., and Ford, R. (2016) The hidden disorder: Undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder in women. Presented at British Psychological Society Annual Conference, April 2016, Nottingham, UK. December 2015 - Lecture – ‘Lived Experiences’, Anglia Ruskin University
November 2015 - Presentation – ‘Females on the Autism Spectrum’, National Autism Society Cambridgeshire Branch

Media experience

June 2015 - Interview – ‘Girls and Autism.’ ABC Radio Australia
March 2015 - 'How many girls mask autism spectrum disorder, like me?' New Scientist, 3011, pp 27  
March 2015 - 'Autism and Me.' Cambridge News  
March 2015 - Interview –'Asperger’s in Women.' Cambridge TV    February 2015 – Interview - 'Asperger's in Women', BBC Radio Cambridgeshire  
February 2015 - Interview - 'Asperger's in Women', BBC Look East