Autism & girls

It is well known that more boys are diagnosed with autism than girls - in fact, up to four times as many boys! But it’s believed by many that the number of girls with autism is much higher, and that is because neurodiversity in girls is less well understood. Sometimes, they’ve been termed the “lost girls” because they’re overlooked or diagnosed late. They don’t fit the stereotypes or their symptoms are misinterpreted as something else.

Autistic characteristics in women and girls may differ from those of other autistic people. Girls are known to display autistic traits in subtler ways than boys - this includes language skills being more developed and restricted interests less obvious. They might seem to have fewer social difficulties than autistic boys. It’s suggested that this may be due to girls ‘masking’ these behaviours to fit societal expectations, in a way that is less common in boys. What this means though, is that girls can be particularly tired and need recovery time after having spent so long masking these behaviours.

Assessments are argued to be biased towards boys, because most research has focused there - that can mean that girls may not get the diagnoses and support that could benefit them. So, whilst awareness is on the increase, do make sure to advocate for attention to a daughter.