diagnostic overshadowing

Noun

diagnostic overshadowing (uncountable)

1. The mistaken attribution of signs and symptoms of a medical condition to a pre-existing known condition.
   • Clearly the consequences of diagnostic overshadowing could be potentially fatal for some people with learning disabilities as their true unerlying health need will not be identified and treated.2009, Bob Gates, Owen Barr, Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability, →ISBN, page 106
   • Multicultural awareness can, in fact, lead to diagnostic overshadowing if clinician attention to race or other diversity issues results in neglect of other important aspects of the client (Vontress & Jackson, 2004).2012, Derald Wing Sue, Counseling the Culturally Diverse, →ISBN