In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Amy Kriewaldt, a late-diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, and PDA mother of three neurodivergent children.
Amy grew up a hyperlexic piano prodigy, praised for talent and performance while quietly navigating sensory overwhelm, situational mutism, perfectionism, and crushing internal expectations. It wasnโt until her children began receiving diagnoses that she started to recognise herself in their traits, and ultimately heard the words that changed everything: โOh, I think youโre Autistic.โ
Together, Angela and Amy explore hyperlexia, auditory processing differences, late self-recognition, self-compassion, memoir writing as a reframing, ADHD medication, self-medication through alcohol and caffeine, and the shift from compliance-based education to connection-centred learning.
This is a conversation about reframing failure, advocating fiercely, rewriting your past, and building systems that support autistic people across the lifespan.
๐ช Attendees
Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon โ Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate
Guest: Amy Kriewaldt โ late-diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, and PDA advocate; founder of Creewald Academy
You: The Listener!
๐๏ธ Meeting Agenda
๐งพ Minutes from the Meeting
1๏ธโฃ Opening Remarks
Angela introduces Amy as a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD parent navigating life with three neurodivergent children โ all PDA โ and building alternatives where traditional systems fall short.
2๏ธโฃ Member Introduction: Amyโs Story
Amy describes growing up as the youngest of eight children and a piano prodigy โ hyperlexic, musically analytical, and praised for performance. Behind the talent were sensory overload, situational mutism, intense perfectionism, and chronic overwhelm that went unrecognised.
As her children received diagnoses, Amy began to see familiar patterns: auditory processing differences, sensory avoidance, social anxiety, and shutdown.
During a phone call describing how she processes information โ needing complete silence to think โ her psychologist paused and said, โOh. I think youโre autistic.โ
3๏ธโฃ Discussion Highlights
4๏ธโฃ Key Learnings
๐ Notice Board
๐ฃ Club Announcements
๐ง The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
๐ฌ Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.
๐ Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions
๐ There is a small charge โ but no one is turned away for lack of funds.
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