How Is Autism Different In Girls?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, significantly more boys have been diagnosed with autism than girls. In fact, it appears about four boys have a diagnosis for every girl. In the past, researchers theorized autism was more prevalent in boys because of genetic differences. But recent research has indicated there may not be a significant gender gap in autism at all, but rather it appears this way as girls tend to present their neurodivergent behaviors differently, and so they tend not to be noticed. There's even a term for them: 'lost girls,' named for the way they're overlooked. Girls are often raised with different social expectations than boys, which could be a contributing factor in the different symptom presentations.

Learn more about precisely how and why autism appears differently in girls now.

Diagnostic Data Derived Around Boys

Autism is a difference in neurological development that causes sensory processing issues, repetitive behaviors, and trouble learning social skills and verbal communication, the extent to which varies based on the individual, hence why it is typically considered a spectrum condition. But according to clinical neuropsychologist Susan Epstein, the classic model of symptom presentation is based entirely on boys. In fact, most of the research regarding autism has been based on male patients. In fact, researchers now believe these models of autistic behavior may have actually hindered progress in understanding autism and how the brains of individuals with autism function. Boys tend to be loud and have obvious hyperfixations, while the presentation in girls may be more subtle. The main takeaway is this: Autism can present in hundreds of unique ways, and limiting diagnosis to one very narrow set of characteristics is detrimental.

Keep reading to learn about how overlapping diagnoses may come into play in girls with autism next.

Overlapping Diagnoses

With girls, autism often comes with overlapping diagnoses or misdiagnoses. The behavioral symptoms may be attributed to a different mental health condition like poor self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. One of the biggest mistakes a parent or doctor can make is assuming social unhappiness is an intrinsic part of girlhood. Many doctors see girls who experience anxiety and distress in social situations, but they can often believe being unhappy around peers is just part of the 'growing-up-girl package.' It's not. While social dysfunction can be the result of depression or low self-esteem, doctors need to dig deeper instead of putting the patient into a stereotypical box. Many girls are also misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or they have ADHD along with autism and it masks the autistic traits. It's especially common for ADHD to be diagnosed in girls whose symptom presentation includes hyperactivity with a more subtle social impairment.

Uncover the information about the quieter symptom presentation in girls with autism next.