Autism in girls
Emma Pinn
The ratio of girls to boys with an autism diagnosis is around 1:4. However researchers believe this statistic belies the true number of girls on the autism spectrum. Researchers predict that under-diagnosis of girls is (too) frequent due to the diagnostic criteria, and assessment instruments, being based on the typical male autistic presentation, or phenotype. In addition, practitioners will sometimes fail to pick up autism in girls because girls are generally much better at social imitation than boys, and are more socially aware. This means they're more likely to engage in eye contact, and attempt to play with, or talk to, others. Girls on the spectrum rarely exhibit aggressive behaviours, and are far more likely to experience high anxiety, which may not be attributed to autism. Signs to watch out for in girls include noticing how they're playing with toys; sometimes it can appear like imaginary play, but on closer observation, she may actually be re-arranging her toys. Girls on the spectrum may appear shy, be regarded as timid, and be on the periphery during social activities. Their special interests are often closer to 'mainstream' than boys special interests, and may include animals, fan fiction, and celebrities. Sometimes girls will be diagnosed with a language disorder, but this diagnosis won't feel like it fully explains what's going on for her. The link below describes some stories about girls who have been misdiagnosed with autism, and some of the reasons why this occurred.