I was shattered: diagnosed with autism at 57, Maïtena Biraben warns about the delayed care of women

From the show “Les Maternelles” on France 5 to “Le Grand Journal” on Canal+, Maïtena Biraben has been able to impose her direct style on television. Known for her frankness, the host has always felt different for many years without understanding why.

In a video posted on her media account “Mesdames” on March 31, 2026, she explains that everything changed when she was diagnosed with several neurodivergent disorders.

Maïtena Biraben’s Long Journey

“I’ve been searching for 28 years to understand what is dysfunctional in me,” Maïtena Biraben explains. “I always felt like I couldn’t connect with others, couldn’t make contact.”

The turning point for Maïtena Biraben came during a live broadcast on her media platform. When a woman appeared on screen, she felt a true connection. “Nothing was right, yet everything felt familiar,” she recounts on camera. Then came the words: “Hello, I am HPI and I am autistic,” and everything changed. “It shattered within me,” the host describes, mentioning an immediate awareness that led her to research autism.

She continues, “I was shattered. Everything I read, everything I found told me who I was. I was hit by a bus.” After a medical journey with a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist, the results are in: at the age of 57, Maïtena is diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and high intellectual potential.

The Blind Spots of Neurodivergent Diagnosis in Women

This diagnosis comes at the right time for Maïtena Biraben. “For me, it does me good,” she explains. “It helps me understand myself. It helps me explain to others what my limits are.” But it also leads to a reassessment of her personal history, relationships, and perception of others. “It means I have 57 years of my life to revisit,” she emphasizes.

Aside from her personal case, Maïtena Biraben highlights the fact that “women are very rarely diagnosed” and many must hide who they are. “I know that many of you feel incredibly different and increasingly distant from others,” she acknowledges, before delivering a conviction: “We can do it, we can make it, and we can overcome this immense grief of never being able to connect with others.”