Aspergers In Girls: Girls Are Less Likely to Be Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

1. Aspergers In Girls: Girls Are Less Likely to Be Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2. Like ADHD, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are different in girls than boys. As a result, more boys are referred for an autism spectrum disorder assessment than girls; a ratio as high as 10 to 1. Despite that, epidemiological research suggests for every four boys, one girl is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  This means potentially thousands of young girls with autism spectrum disorder never get diagnosed.

3. Why Girls are less likely to be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder The primary difference between autism spectrum disorder diagnoses in girls and boys may be caused by the ways boys and girls express themselves. Aggressive behavior is more noticeable and likely to be evaluated. Because girls typically have a greater ability to express their emotions, they’re less likely to act out when upset, confused, or overwhelmed. This is true of ASD children as well. Without this behavioral “symptom”, the other aspects of autism spectrum disorder may go unnoticed.

4. Getting Professional Guidance Parents who suspect their daughter may have autism spectrum disorder should seek the advice of a trained medical professional. Because autism spectrum disorder symptoms are so much subtler in girls, parents should consult with someone who specializes in autism spectrum disorder.

5. As with other behavioral or learning disabilities, children with autism spectrum disorder have specific educational rights. Parents of a child who’s been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder should familiarize themselves with the school district’s policy about specialized learning plans and individualized therapy. Often, a young girl with autism needs extra attention and support to help reach her academic and personal potential.

6. One of the key symptoms common between boys and girls is a hyper-focused interest on one particular thing or topic. For boys, the special interests are often in areas of science or transportation (trains or airplanes). In girls, the focus is often on animals or classic literature. The interest alone isn’t unusual, but a child with autism spectrum disorder will have an unusually intimate knowledge of his or her topic of interest. For example, young girls may play with dolls and have imaginary friends, which doesn’t seem at all unusual. However, her interest in these things will continue even when she’s a teenager and they should have been outgrown.

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