A recent study published in the BMJ has revealed a concerning disparity in autism diagnoses between boys and girls. Contrary to long-held assumptions that autism is predominantly diagnosed in males, research led by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that girls are just as likely to be autistic, but often go undiagnosed or receive delayed diagnoses.
The study, which tracked 2.7 million people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020, found that boys were three to four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism under the age of 10. However, by the age of 20, diagnosis rates for men and women were almost equal.
Experts point to a phenomenon known as "masking" – where autistic girls and women adapt their behavior to fit in with neurotypical social norms – as a major contributor to the disparity. This often results in autism symptoms being misdiagnosed or overlooked altogether.
The study's findings have sparked concerns that autistic girls are missing out on vital support services, including diagnosis and treatment, due to systemic biases in diagnostic practices. Charities such as the National Autistic Society and Ambitious about Autism have called for greater awareness and understanding of autism in girls and women, citing a lack of tailored support services.
"Autism in girls is more likely to go undetected during childhood and signs of the condition might only surface during adolescence or even early adulthood," said Dr Conor Davidson, former Royal College of Psychiatrists' autism champion. "It's vital that psychiatrists are aware of the possibility of autism when assessing patients with mental health problems."
The study's lead author, Dr Caroline Fyfe, highlighted the need for further research to understand 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," she said.
With an estimated one in 100 girls and women on the autism spectrum, experts stress that addressing this disparity requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes inclusivity, awareness, and tailored support services for autistic individuals of all ages.
The study, which tracked 2.7 million people born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020, found that boys were three to four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism under the age of 10. However, by the age of 20, diagnosis rates for men and women were almost equal.
Experts point to a phenomenon known as "masking" – where autistic girls and women adapt their behavior to fit in with neurotypical social norms – as a major contributor to the disparity. This often results in autism symptoms being misdiagnosed or overlooked altogether.
The study's findings have sparked concerns that autistic girls are missing out on vital support services, including diagnosis and treatment, due to systemic biases in diagnostic practices. Charities such as the National Autistic Society and Ambitious about Autism have called for greater awareness and understanding of autism in girls and women, citing a lack of tailored support services.
"Autism in girls is more likely to go undetected during childhood and signs of the condition might only surface during adolescence or even early adulthood," said Dr Conor Davidson, former Royal College of Psychiatrists' autism champion. "It's vital that psychiatrists are aware of the possibility of autism when assessing patients with mental health problems."
The study's lead author, Dr Caroline Fyfe, highlighted the need for further research to understand 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," she said.
With an estimated one in 100 girls and women on the autism spectrum, experts stress that addressing this disparity requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes inclusivity, awareness, and tailored support services for autistic individuals of all ages.
. It's crazy to think that some girls might not even be diagnosed with autism until they're teenagers or even adults 
. I mean, what kind of systemic issues are allowing this to happen? 
We need more research on why female autistic individuals are getting delayed diagnoses and how we can tailor our support services to better meet their needs 
. It's also really sad that some charities are saying that autistic girls are being overlooked in general 
. We need to do a better job of raising awareness about autism in girls and women, especially in schools and communities where they're growing up 
.
i think its crazy how they say autistic girls & women are "masking" their symptoms lol like why wouldnt we just be ourselves? anyway, i feel so bad 4 the ones who dont get diagnosed till later cuz thats when problems start happening 
. and yeah, support services need 2 b more inclusive 4 all ages, not just youngins 
. it makes sense that boys are more likely 2 be diagnosed earlier tho 
. we should definitely do more research 2 figure out why thats the case 
. Its not fair that they're more likely to go undiagnosed or get delayed diagnoses because society expects them to "mask" their symptoms. But honestly, thats also kinda awesome 
cuz now we have the chance to change things and make more support services for them available! And its so important that experts are talking about this stuff 
. We need to make sure everyone knows that autism affects people of all ages and genders, not just boys. Its time for a big shift in how we approach mental health and diagnosis. I'm super hopeful that we can make a difference 
It's like, you're already hiding a whole other world inside you, why not just give yourself permission to be different? 
But for real though, this study highlights how messed up our diagnostic systems are. Like, we're so used to thinking of autism as a boy thing that we forget that girls and women have been living with it all along too! 
So yeah, let's get some more research done and start providing those tailored support services – autistic girls and women need them, stat! 
this study is like WOW why are girls and women being left behind with autism?!? it's not even fair that they're more likely to be misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed altogether! 
the whole "masking" thing is so sad because it means they're hiding behind a mask of normalcy instead of being free to be themselves! 
and now experts are saying that autistic girls need tailored support services but i'm like what about all those years of neglect?!? we can't just start now and expect everything to be okay 
let's get this movement going and make sure everyone knows that autism affects EVERYONE regardless of gender! 
! My cousin has an autistic niece and she was always a bit quirky, but nobody thought twice about it back then. Now they're like "oh wait, she's autistic" 
. It's like, what even is masking? 
. The lack of support for girls is huge 
. I mean we should know more about autism in girls they need our help, specially tailored support is a must 
.
. i think its bcuz those autistic girls r just tryna fit in & not be diff 
. we need 2 b more aware of autism in girls n women & make sure they get the right support 
! like, can u imagine goin thru life w/out knowin u got autism? 
. It's crazy that they might be missing out on support services due to biases in diagnostics. We need more research, like, ASAP! 
Now we know it's not that simple.
We can't just ignore it anymore.