How Is Autism Different In Girls?

Quieter Symptom Presentation

Girls with autism often have a quieter symptom presentation than boys with the condition. Of course, symptom presentation differs from individual to individual, and there are girls who meet the stereotypical 'loud' diagnostic criteria for autism. But a good portion of girls make active attempts to hide their symptoms, or they're brushed off by health professionals who see the symptoms as normal behavior. For example, a girl might become hyper-fixated on horses, unicorns, or fairies, but since interest in these things is often expected for girls, it's overlooked. Girls might struggle in social situations, but rather than make their distress clear, they become more passive and withdrawn. It's likely some of this can be blamed on society. Girls are often encouraged to be quieter, to tolerate situations that cause discomfort, and to hide their distress instead of expressing it.

Understand how stereotypes may play a role in how autism is different in girls now.

Stereotypes Can Interfere

Stereotypes have hampered research into autism and the way it presents as a neurodivergence. The most common stereotype of a child with autism is a nonverbal or barely-verbal boy who doesn't play with friends, has sensory meltdowns, and obsesses over trains of bugs. And it's true some children with autism do look like this. But what researchers are now finding is that this image represents only a tiny sliver of the actual population dealing with autism. By focusing on rigid stereotypes, the medical field has failed to explore the other ways autism symptoms can present. This issue doesn't just affect girls; it also affects boys whose symptoms aren't stereotypical. For autism to be better understood and more accurately diagnosed, medical professionals need to do away with stereotypes and learn about alternative symptom presentations.

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