For every 16 boys properly diagnosed only 1 girl will be diagnosed.
Diagnosis
One reason that boys get diagnosed with autism more is because doctors and educators only look for the signs of autism in boys. Some people also believe that girls are better at blending there symptoms in then boys. For example girls can blend in and make friends with their piers better than boys can. Tony Attwood reported that girls can watch and copy other girls to hide their symptoms. Another difference is how girls play, they are able to use their imagination and use that as an escape, even when they have ASD. The criteria used to diagnose people with autism doesn't have specifics for girls (Autism and gender). The studies done to create the criteria has been almost all on boys. David H Skuse wrote a paper about the genetics involved with ASD. In his paper he hypothesized that ASD is on the X gene. Girls inherit two X genes and boys inherit one from their mom. Skuse wrote that the X gene girls inherit from their father protects them against autism (Skuse, D. H. 2000, January 01). However this is just a hypothesis and has not been proven.
Frances' Story
The Scientific American reports on an autistic girls story. The story tells how she had some common symptoms and others were missing. Frances was social, happy, and easy but she was delayed in babeling, walking, talking, responding to her name. Her father researches autism at Yale University, even he didn't know that his daughter had autism. Frances has a little brother who also has autism. Her brother was able to be diagnosed at 16 months and had a much easier time getting the diagnosis. Some doctors gave them several little diagnosis for Frances and told her parents she was a girl so it wouldn't be autism. Doctors and researchers used to believe that if girls had autism it would be severe, they now know that is incorrect. Before Frances got her correct diagnose they gave her many psychiatric conditions such as ADHD and OCD.
To read Frances full story click this link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/
To read Frances full story click this link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/
Symptoms in Girls
Girls often have similar but not the exact symptoms as boys. The website, Very Well, gives 11 symptoms that are specific to girls. They are:
-strong smell, a bright light, etc.
As you can see a number of the symptoms and signs deal with social skills. It is important to understand that just because a girl deals with some or all of the symptoms does not mean that she is autistic. If you do believe that these symptoms fit a girl you should find someone who has a experience diagnosing girls with autism (Rudy, L).
- Other girls talk and guide the autistic girl
- Interest that are specific and limited
- Over sensitive to big sensory change
-Strong smell, a bright light, etc. - Only talks about topics their are interested in and does not want to hear your response
- Irritable, meltdowns
- Suffers from extreme depression, anxiety, or moodiness
- Doesn't understand social cues
- Does not input in conversation, shy
- Passive due to lack of understanding social situations
- Socially submissive
- Epileptic
-strong smell, a bright light, etc.
As you can see a number of the symptoms and signs deal with social skills. It is important to understand that just because a girl deals with some or all of the symptoms does not mean that she is autistic. If you do believe that these symptoms fit a girl you should find someone who has a experience diagnosing girls with autism (Rudy, L).
References:
Autism and gender. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/gender.aspx
Rudy, L. (2017, December 30). Could Your Daughter Be Autistic? 11 Signs of Autism in Girls (J. Forman MD, Ed.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.verywell.com/signs-of-autism-in-girls-260304
Szalavitz, M. (2016, March 01). Autism--It's Different in Girls. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/
Skuse, D. H. (2000, January 01). Imprinting, the X-Chromosome, and the Male Brain: Explaining Sex Differences in the Liability to Autism. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.nature.com/articles/pr20006
Autism and gender. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from http://www.autism.org.uk/about/what-is/gender.aspx
Rudy, L. (2017, December 30). Could Your Daughter Be Autistic? 11 Signs of Autism in Girls (J. Forman MD, Ed.). Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.verywell.com/signs-of-autism-in-girls-260304
Szalavitz, M. (2016, March 01). Autism--It's Different in Girls. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/
Skuse, D. H. (2000, January 01). Imprinting, the X-Chromosome, and the Male Brain: Explaining Sex Differences in the Liability to Autism. Retrieved January 16, 2018, from https://www.nature.com/articles/pr20006