‘Autistic girls can easily slip through the cracks’ — what moms should know to help their daughters
- The rate of children diagnosed with autism has doubled since 2010 to 1 in 31 in 2022, and there are as many as four boys for every girl diagnosed with autism.
- Autism is harder to diagnose in girls, and autistic girls might only begin showing clear signs of their condition as they approach their teens.
- Autism experts outline how autism presents differently in girls and boys, when these differences may become apparent, and what a diagnosis might provide.
Girls are up to four times less likely to be diagnosed with autism than boys. This is despite the rate at which autism has been diagnosed in children increasing from 1 in 68 children in 2010 to 1 in 31 in 2022. The difference in diagnosis rates is partly because of how autism presents in girls and boys, with girls exhibiting fewer symptoms traditionally associated with autism. To help bridge that diagnosis gap, autism therapy experts at Autism 360 have compiled a guide on what signs to look for and what a diagnosis could mean for girls with autism.
Autistic behavior in girls and how this compares to boys
Autism usually presents differently in boys and girls, although some traits are common to both genders.
In general, autistic children tend to be honest, have perfectionist tendencies, exhibit repetitive behaviors, have rigid routines, and may prefer their own company. They may have poor handwriting skills, may ignore advice, can be withdrawn, and may not care about fashion. Children with autism are generally prone to depression, although girls can be more prone than boys. Autistic children also have special interests, which are highly focused topics someone is passionate about.
However, autistic girls will tend to have special interests that are more socially acceptable, such as animals, books, and art, while boys will tend to have more niche special interests. Additionally, girls may prefer media that is more fantasy-focused, whereas boys may prefer media that is more focused on science fiction and action.
In general, autistic girls can socialize and fit in more easily than boys, since girls will tend to study how to behave in social settings, then use this to guide their interactions rather than relying on intuitive behavior. Girls will usually have at least one strong friendship and will attempt to make friends, while boys tend to be more solitary. Autistic girls are more likely than boys to be liked by their peers, are less likely to be misunderstood by their peers, and are less likely to bully or be bullied by their peers.
Girls with autism are generally more flexible, less demanding of attention, more affectionate, and more willing to share than boys. Girls will also tend to apologize a lot, sometimes excessively, while boys are often indifferent.
Girls with autism will generally be more direct with their opinions than other girls, whereas boys with autism will tend to keep their thoughts to themselves. However, autistic girls will tend to hide their emotions, while boys will generally display them. This is reflected in mood swings, where girls are more likely to shut down and act in a passive manner, while boys are more likely to behave in aggressive or passive-aggressive manners.
Additionally, girls with autism will generally hit their speech development milestones, speak reasonably well, and may speak in higher pitches. Boys, on the other hand, may fall behind in their speech milestones, may speak in a monotone voice, and may have speech impairments.
Why diagnosing autism in girls can be difficult
Many girls with autism tend to reach developmental milestones like learning to talk, walk, and communicate socially at the same time as their peers. This makes it difficult to detect and diagnose autism as early as with boys, since missing these developmental milestones provides the framework that informs when to test for autism.
Boys may begin to be monitored as toddlers, and may have already received an autism diagnosis by the time they are between four and 11 years old. Girls, on the other hand, may not even begin to be tested for autism until they are 11 years old.
When and why autistic traits in girls become easier to identify
Autistic girls can find it difficult to grow into their teens beginning around age 11, and this is when it becomes easier to identify autism in girls. Autistic girls may have been able to cope with social interactions as a child, but they can begin to struggle as interactions become more complex as they grow.
Girls with autism often cling to the things that brought them comfort in childhood, such as their childhood best friend or the games, play, or fantasies they engaged in when younger. They may also have no interest in topics that other girls their age are beginning to obsess over, such as dating, fashion, or their appearance. However, they may feign interest to keep up with social norms.
Ash Bhattacharya, CEO and Cofounder of Autism 360, said:
“Autistic girls can easily slip through the cracks until much later in life. Our current diagnostic criteria are geared towards identifying autism in boys, and diagnosing autism gets even more complicated when autistic girls can generally navigate social interactions more easily than autistic boys can. Girls with autism are generally more interested in social interactions than boys, and they can use this to develop mechanisms and prepare reactions to mask their autism in social settings.
“It’s never too late to seek an autism diagnosis for your daughter. Sometimes, the first indication of autism in a girl can be her struggle with growing into her teens. She may have always had a close friend who is now finding your daughter to be overly possessive or obsessed with childish things, or she may be having difficulty with the more complex social interactions that come with age. This frustration may make her become withdrawn or aggressive, so talk to your pediatrician if you are not seeing changes you might expect to see at her age.
“A diagnosis for autism can be life-changing, since it can help your daughter get the support she needs to thrive. It can help her understand why she might have been struggling with things that seem effortless to her peers, such as developing more mature interests and navigating more complex social interactions, plus it can show her what strategies she can use to make her life easier.”
