Study Suggests Autism May Be Equally Common in Girls and Boys

Recent research is challenging the long-held belief that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is significantly more common in males than females. A comprehensive population study conducted in Sweden and published in The BMJ followed nearly 2.7 million people born between 1985 and 2022, tracking them from childhood into adulthood. Over the course of more than three decades of follow-up, 78,522 individuals (about 2.8 % of the sample) received an autism diagnosis.

Boys Diagnosed Earlier, Girls Catch Up Later

The data revealed that although boys are diagnosed with autism at higher rates in childhood, this gap narrows significantly with age. Diagnosis rates for boys peaked between ages 10 and 14, while for girls the highest rates occurred later, between ages 15 and 19. By around age 20, the number of males and females diagnosed with autism was nearly equal.

This pattern suggests that the commonly referenced male-to-female autism ratio of roughly 4:1 mainly reflects early childhood diagnosis trends. As girls transition into adolescence and early adulthood, their diagnoses increase, reducing the apparent gender gap.

Why Might Girls Be Diagnosed Later?

Experts think several factors might contribute to this shift. Girls often display social and communication behaviors that can mask or compensate for autistic traits, making symptoms less obvious to clinicians and caregivers. Additionally, subtle behavioral differences and societal expectations around gender can lead to underrecognition of autism in females during early childhood.

The study’s authors emphasize the need to better understand these diagnostic disparities so that autistic females receive timely and accurate identification and support. They note that without appropriate recognition, girls and women with autism may be misdiagnosed with other psychiatric conditions and endure delays in accessing services that could help them thrive.

Source: BMJ Group
ImageCredits: Freepik