Why autism is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed in girls and women

Why girls and women are so often overlooked as being autistic and frequently misdiagnosed with other conditions...

This is still a HUGE problem, even with all the progress made in recent years. So, I'm going to talk about why this happens...

First, the staggering statistic...

As of 2022 boys are diagnosed autistic 3-4 TIMES as much as girls according to the CDC.

Why?

Here's how the DSM explains it...

“Females are more likely than males to mask social difficulties and display fewer repetitive behaviors, which may contribute to under recognition of ASD in females, particularly those without intellectual or language impairments.”

"Females may present with more subtle social communication difficulties and may be better at compensating for difficulties in some areas, leading to delayed identification and diagnosis.”

In other words, girls and women are often VERY GOOD at camouflaging their differences by copying the way their friends talk or act... by following social “scripts"... and by developing intense interests that are often considered "normal" for their age.

And their sensory issues, social challenges, and need for sameness often end up being dismissed as age appropriate stubbornness, personality quirks, anxiety, or just a "phase."

So even when their autistic brain wiring causes significant challenges in their daily life, they're often overlooked. (Which is exactly what happened to me  )

Which is why understanding how autism can manifest in girls and women is so crucial.