New Study Reveals Autistic Girls Often Missed in Diagnosis Due to Systemic Biases
A large-scale study published in the BMJ has found that autistic girls are significantly less likely to receive a diagnosis than their male counterparts, with boys being diagnosed on average nearly three years earlier. The study, which tracked over 2.7 million people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020, suggests that women and girls may be just as likely to have autism as men but are often underdiagnosed or receive diagnoses late.
According to the research, girls were diagnosed with autism on average nearly three years later than boys, with a median age of diagnosis being 15.9 for girls versus 13.1 for boys. The study found that this gap narrowed significantly after the age of 20, as women's diagnosis rates increased rapidly during adolescence.
Experts point to systemic biases in diagnosis and inadequate support services as major contributors to this disparity. "The male to female ratio for autism spectrum disorder has decreased over time and with increasing age at diagnosis," observed the study authors. This suggests that previous assumptions about autism being more prevalent among men may be incorrect, and that women and girls have been overlooked due to a lack of understanding or outdated stereotypes.
Autism charities and advocates are calling for greater awareness and action to tackle gender stereotypes and ensure that autistic women and girls receive equal access to diagnosis and support. "It is crucial researchers and diagnostic services continue to build understanding of the different presentations of autism in girls and women," said Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of Ambitious about Autism.
The study's findings highlight the need for more nuanced approaches to diagnosis and support, taking into account the varied experiences and needs of autistic individuals. As Dr. Conor Davidson noted, "Psychiatrists must be aware of the possibility of autism when assessing patients with mental health problems, particularly women whose autism may not have been picked up in childhood."
The study's lead author, Dr. Caroline Fyfe, emphasized the importance of investigating why female individuals receive diagnoses later than male counterparts. "Our findings suggest that the gender difference in autism prevalence is much lower than previously thought, due to women and girls being underdiagnosed or diagnosed late," she said.
Overall, the study's results underscore the need for greater understanding, awareness, and support for autistic women and girls, who often face barriers to diagnosis and access to services. By challenging outdated stereotypes and biases, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable approach to autism diagnosis and care.
A large-scale study published in the BMJ has found that autistic girls are significantly less likely to receive a diagnosis than their male counterparts, with boys being diagnosed on average nearly three years earlier. The study, which tracked over 2.7 million people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020, suggests that women and girls may be just as likely to have autism as men but are often underdiagnosed or receive diagnoses late.
According to the research, girls were diagnosed with autism on average nearly three years later than boys, with a median age of diagnosis being 15.9 for girls versus 13.1 for boys. The study found that this gap narrowed significantly after the age of 20, as women's diagnosis rates increased rapidly during adolescence.
Experts point to systemic biases in diagnosis and inadequate support services as major contributors to this disparity. "The male to female ratio for autism spectrum disorder has decreased over time and with increasing age at diagnosis," observed the study authors. This suggests that previous assumptions about autism being more prevalent among men may be incorrect, and that women and girls have been overlooked due to a lack of understanding or outdated stereotypes.
Autism charities and advocates are calling for greater awareness and action to tackle gender stereotypes and ensure that autistic women and girls receive equal access to diagnosis and support. "It is crucial researchers and diagnostic services continue to build understanding of the different presentations of autism in girls and women," said Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of Ambitious about Autism.
The study's findings highlight the need for more nuanced approaches to diagnosis and support, taking into account the varied experiences and needs of autistic individuals. As Dr. Conor Davidson noted, "Psychiatrists must be aware of the possibility of autism when assessing patients with mental health problems, particularly women whose autism may not have been picked up in childhood."
The study's lead author, Dr. Caroline Fyfe, emphasized the importance of investigating why female individuals receive diagnoses later than male counterparts. "Our findings suggest that the gender difference in autism prevalence is much lower than previously thought, due to women and girls being underdiagnosed or diagnosed late," she said.
Overall, the study's results underscore the need for greater understanding, awareness, and support for autistic women and girls, who often face barriers to diagnosis and access to services. By challenging outdated stereotypes and biases, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable approach to autism diagnosis and care.
I'm like totally bummed out by this study... my niece has autism and she's one of those super smart girls who didn't fit in with her classmates, you know? She was always drawing and creating things and just seemed really different from the other kids. But no one ever thought to check if she had autism until she was like 16 or so. Can you believe that?! 
It's crazy that girls are being missed out on because of these systemic biases and outdated stereotypes. We need to make sure that autistic women and girls get the support they deserve, ASAP! 
Girls with autism need just as much support and understanding as anyone else, but it seems like nobody's really listened until now. We need more research and awareness about how different autistic people experience their conditions. And honestly, who thought it was a good idea to assume that autism only affects boys? 
The stats are actually showing that women and girls might be just as likely to have autism as men! 
It's time for us to break down those stereotypes and get better at supporting everyone on the spectrum. 
. Like, I get it, boys have been the default example of autism in medical literature for ages, but this study is highlighting just how wrong that was 
.
. Psych docs need to be more aware of the possibility of autism in patients with mental health issues, especially women whose neurodiversity might not have been recognized in childhood 
. And let's not forget that autistic women and girls face different challenges than their male counterparts – it's not just about getting a diagnosis, but also about access to support services 
.
. It's time for us to get on board with the fact that autism is not just a boys' club anymore 
.
autism diagnoses are whack! 
. it's not like autistic women are any less neurodiverse or in need of help, it's just that we've been ignoring them for too long 
. let's get the word out and support these amazing charities working to change this 
what if girls were being held back from getting help because of that? 
, the fact that autistic girls are being missed in diagnoses due to systemic biases is just heartbreaking 
. It's not fair at all that autistic girls are being overlooked and receiving late diagnoses, it's like they're invisible 
.