Girls and women on the autism spectrum

Girls and women on the autism spectrum often slip through the diagnostic net. Early intervention is vital for young children with autism, providing them with effective support. Temple Grandin, a well-known woman with autism, emphasizes the importance of early speech intervention. Girls with autism may exhibit masking strategies by copying others' behavior to fit in, making their social difficulties less obvious. The general prevalence suggests that about four times as many males as females receive an autism diagnosis. However, there is a growing understanding that the diagnostic criteria and understanding of autism in females needs improvement. DSM-5 criteria are primarily based on males, potentially leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of females. Girls and women with autism may present differently due to social pressure and are taught to be socially adaptable. The extreme male brain theory suggests that autism is an extreme version of the male brain, with a focus on systemizing over empathizing. However, this theory is not without criticism, as many aspects of empathizing are intact in individuals with autism, and the non-social assets and social difficulties in autism appear to have distinct genetic underpinnings. Further research is needed to better understand the distinct experience of girls and women with autism.