The study also found brain differences between autistic boys and girls help explain this discrepancy. In fact, according to a 2005 study at Stanford University, autistic girls exhibit less repetitive and restricted behavior than boys do. It’s not quite as obvious to an untrained eye.” She adds that as the spectrum has grown, it’s gotten harder to diagnose less-affected boys as well. “But the level of the interest might be missed and the level of oddity can be a little more damped down. “So where the boys are looking at train schedules, girls might have excessive interest in horses or unicorns, which is not unexpected for girls,” Dr. Stereotypes may get in the way of recognition. That’s not to say that girls don’t ever fit it, but girls tend to have a quieter presentation, with not necessarily as much of the repetitive and restricted behavior, or it shows up in a different way.” “The model that we have for a classic autism diagnosis has really turned out to be a male model. Epstein, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist. But here’s the hitch, according to Susan F. Children with autism also often have sensory processing issues. We were never told those things about our son.”Īutism is a developmental disorder that is marked by two unusual kinds of behaviors: deficits in communication and social skills, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. And, of course, that her issues were just a parenting problem. “At one point, we were even told that my daughter just had low self-esteem and that’s why she didn’t speak. He came up with excuses for her behavior and reasons why she couldn’t be on the spectrum,” Melissa says. “The developmental pediatrician who saw Lisa didn’t believe autism was common in girls. Melissa’s son was also diagnosed at 6 - but by the first clinician who saw him, despite the fact that his symptoms were far less obvious. Though Lisa’s challenges qualified her for Early Intervention at 18 months, it wasn’t until she was 6 that a developmental neurologist would diagnose her with autism. She was also unable to handle any change in routine. There were also other signs, like lining up her stuffed animals, spinning in circles, and constantly seeking sensory input. “On paper,” Melissa says, “she seemed to check all the boxes.” Lisa had a significant language delay - she didn’t speak in sentences until she was 4 - did no pretend play, and had several meltdowns each day. But while daughter Lisa’s symptoms were much more obvious than son Justin’s, the girl’s were waved off for three years by a variety of clinicians. And they may be better at hiding the signs, at least when they’re young.Įven when girls’ presentation is clearer, they can be overlooked. They don’t fit the stereotypes or their symptoms are misinterpreted as something else. They’ve been termed the “lost girls” or “hiding in plain sight” because they’re overlooked or diagnosed late. But clinicians and researchers have also come to realize that many “higher functioning” autistic girls are simply missed. ![]() Researchers point to genetic differences. Many more boys than girls are diagnosed on the autism spectrum: more than four boys for every autistic girl, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control. Getting diagnosed early on is important so girls can get the support they need as soon as possible. Therapists might not see that autism is the underlying cause. That can lead to depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. They might get exhausted from trying so hard to fit in or be bullied because they miss social cues. When girls with autism don’t get diagnosed, they miss out on support that can help them understand their challenges, build skills and excel in school. Some girls with autism get diagnosed with ADHD instead, which can look similar on the surface. All of this can make for a more subtle version of autism that a doctor might not recognize. They might also be more interested in making friends than boys with autism are. They might have learned early on to smile or make eye contact. If that interest is something considered “girly,” like horses, a doctor might dismiss it as normal.Īutistic girls are sometimes better at controlling their behavior in public. Having an intense interest in something specific is also common in people with autism. But girls with autism might not have as many repetitive behaviors as boys, or they might be quieter about them. Repetitive behavior, like flapping their hands, is one sign of autism that most doctors recognize. Often, autism in girls just looks different from the stereotype of autistic behavior, so some doctors might not diagnose it. But that might not be because more boys have autism. Far more boys than girls are diagnosed with autism.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |