Autism Diagnosis Disparities Highlight Systemic Biases Against Girls and Women
A large-scale study published in the BMJ has challenged long-held assumptions about the prevalence of autism among males and females. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden analyzed data on 2.7 million individuals born between 1985 and 2020, revealing that girls are just as likely to be autistic as boys, but receive diagnoses much later.
According to the study's findings, by the age of 20, diagnosis rates for men and women approached parity, contrary to previous research that suggested autism was more prevalent among males. However, boys were diagnosed on average nearly three years earlier than girls, with a median age of diagnosis at 13.1 compared to 15.9 for girls.
The disparity in diagnosis rates persisted in childhood, with boys being three to four times more likely to be diagnosed under the age of 10 than girls. But as children entered adolescence and young adulthood, girls began to "catch up" on diagnoses, largely due to an increase in autism diagnoses during this period.
Critics argue that systemic biases and outdated assumptions are driving these disparities. Dr. Caroline Fyfe, lead author of the study, notes that women and girls are often underdiagnosed or receive delayed diagnoses due to a lack of tools and methods tailored to their experiences.
The research has been welcomed by autism charities, who emphasize the need for better understanding and support services for autistic girls and women. Dr. Judith Brown, head of evidence and research at the National Autistic Society, says that "autism should never be a barrier to receiving an accurate diagnosis or access to the right support."
As autistic girls continue to face misunderstandings and delayed diagnoses, experts stress the importance of refining diagnostic tools and adapting support services to meet their unique needs. By doing so, they hope to alleviate the exhaustion, anxiety, and depression that often result from masking their symptoms.
A large-scale study published in the BMJ has challenged long-held assumptions about the prevalence of autism among males and females. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden analyzed data on 2.7 million individuals born between 1985 and 2020, revealing that girls are just as likely to be autistic as boys, but receive diagnoses much later.
According to the study's findings, by the age of 20, diagnosis rates for men and women approached parity, contrary to previous research that suggested autism was more prevalent among males. However, boys were diagnosed on average nearly three years earlier than girls, with a median age of diagnosis at 13.1 compared to 15.9 for girls.
The disparity in diagnosis rates persisted in childhood, with boys being three to four times more likely to be diagnosed under the age of 10 than girls. But as children entered adolescence and young adulthood, girls began to "catch up" on diagnoses, largely due to an increase in autism diagnoses during this period.
Critics argue that systemic biases and outdated assumptions are driving these disparities. Dr. Caroline Fyfe, lead author of the study, notes that women and girls are often underdiagnosed or receive delayed diagnoses due to a lack of tools and methods tailored to their experiences.
The research has been welcomed by autism charities, who emphasize the need for better understanding and support services for autistic girls and women. Dr. Judith Brown, head of evidence and research at the National Autistic Society, says that "autism should never be a barrier to receiving an accurate diagnosis or access to the right support."
As autistic girls continue to face misunderstandings and delayed diagnoses, experts stress the importance of refining diagnostic tools and adapting support services to meet their unique needs. By doing so, they hope to alleviate the exhaustion, anxiety, and depression that often result from masking their symptoms.
I'm kinda shocked by this study - I mean, we've always been told autism is super common in boys, but it turns out girls can be just as autistic too 
. It's crazy how much earlier the diagnosis comes for guys compared to gals. Like, 13 years old for boys and 15.9 for girls... that's a huge gap 
. I think this highlights some systemic issues we need to tackle - like, why are there tools and methods that aren't tailored to autistic girls? 
It's super important to recognize the differences in experiences between males and females with autism. We need to make sure everyone gets the support they need without stigma or delays 
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girls are just as likely to be autistic as boys but we get diagnosed SO much later!!! i mean like by 20 we're finally on the same level of diagnosis rate lol. but what really gets me is how systemic biases and old assumptions are still holding us back. like, women and girls have been masking their symptoms for years because they didn't fit into the "typical" autism mold 
it's a lot to handle and I'm so glad that researchers and charities are speaking out about this. we need better support services and diagnostic tools that cater to autistic girls' unique needs ASAP 
this is so frustrating! I mean, who says autistic girls don't exist or are just pretending to be normal? It's like, we've always known our daughter was different, but nobody ever took her seriously until she was old enough to speak up for herself 
. And now that the research is out, it's about time we're getting some answers and support for these girls who've been living in silence 
. Our kids deserve so much more than that! 
It's crazy to think that boys are diagnosed way earlier than girls, it makes me wonder what was happening all these years that we didn't recognize the signs... now I feel like I wish I could go back in time and say something for my girl when she needed it most 
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. But now I get it, they're masking their symptoms 'cause they don't think it's a big deal for girls 
I'm not buying it just yet... how can we trust these numbers when diagnosis rates are supposed to be standardized? What about all those cases where girls were misdiagnosed with ADHD or anxiety? And what's with this "lack of tools and methods tailored to their experiences" - isn't that just a cop-out for lack of funding or resources? 
It's crazy how our society still has it out for autistic girls 
The fact that they're being underdiagnosed or delayed is just unacceptable 
. We need to start acknowledging the differences in how autism presents itself in girls vs boys and create tools that can help us better understand them 
. Its not just about diagnosing them sooner, its about understanding their unique experiences & needs 
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. and it's not just about the age of diagnosis, it's also about how often they get diagnosed under 10 years old vs boys 
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