80% of girls with autism go undiagnosed and only a small percentage of providers are experienced in detecting these gender differences.
Boys are diagnosed with autism at a much higher rate and girls often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to major differences between genders. For girls, autism characteristics tend to be “quieter” and they may “get by”, at least for some time before challenges are seen.
Some differences include:
Boys are diagnosed with autism at a much higher rate and girls often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to major differences between genders. For girls, autism characteristics tend to be “quieter” and they may “get by”, at least for some time before challenges are seen.
Some differences include:
Masking research shows that girls/women are more likely to “mask” autistic characteristics in order to hide these and fit in. Many report putting effort to make eye contact and imitate facial expressions and body language, refrain from stimming in public and hide interests, and develop “scripts” or specific steps with what to say or do for certain situations.