More Adult Women Being Diagnosed With Autism

Only one girl receives an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis for every four boys. Most experts have long accepted that this is due to some genetic predisposition to the disorder that affects the two sexes differently, but there’s a good chance that doctors have gotten this all wrong—and they're starting to realize it. More and more adult women are now being diagnosed with autism, and their experiences paint a tragic picture of misdiagnosis, judgment and isolation.

Women on the Spectrum

Researchers investigated the experiences of numerous women who’d slipped through the diagnostic cracks growing up and hadn’t received a diagnosis of autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), until after they were adults. They found many of these women had understood early on that they were different, and most had started employing strategies at a young age to try to appear “normal.” This strategy, which can be absent in ASD boys, is one reason many young girls don’t get flagged until much later if they’re spotted at all.

Girls with ASD are less likely to have the outward physical signs we tend to associate with autism: hyperactivity, impulsivity and behavior issues. Instead, they tend to internalize their angst. Whereas a boy on the spectrum might have a hard time holding still and taking instructions, a girl is more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression or an eating disorder. Girls with ASD are also more likely to make a friend or two and may even play well with others, even though obvious social issues are present. They may also be also more apt to be the “teacher’s pet” at school.

Recognizing the Signs of Autism in Women and Girls

According to the Asperger/Autism Network, autistic girls often have interests that differ from those of most other girls their age. Whereas neurotypical girls might find fashion and popularity more important than comfort, their peers with autism are more likely to be concerned with whether the texture of their clothing is soft or irritating. They also tend to hyperfocus on one or two specific hobbies or subjects, which commonly revolve around art, literature, nature, animals, activism and similar themes.

The Consequences of Growing Up ‘Different’

Growing up undiagnosed with ASD has set many girls up for years of hardship and heartache. Studies have shown most have normal to high intelligence, which is often part of the issue with receiving a diagnosis. Yet, many have notable difficulties functioning, even into adulthood, with misdiagnosis for mental health disorders often only compounding their hardships.

Growing up, girls on the spectrum often fall into a set of traps that leave them feeling isolated and invalidated. For example, when they go to a teacher about a bullying student, the teacher might turn the blame on the autistic child and tell them to stop being such an easy target. The child might exhaust themselves trying to mimic and interpret normal cues, which can lead to a crisis of identity. Many even find their mimic-prone nature makes them easy targets for abusers and manipulators.

Autistic women commonly report falling victim to rape. They may have a hard time distinguishing friendliness from attraction and they may even miss normal danger cues that would send most people packing. Many who’ve been interviewed believe that receiving an earlier diagnosis (and thus earlier insight into their social deficits) would likely have saved them years of hardship.

Autism may be far more common in women and girls than previously thought, with many of those now being diagnosed being women who’ve slipped through the cracks in childhood. As research uncovers more about the differences in symptoms between the sexes, even more of us are likely to come to an empowering truth: Yes, I was different all along, and no, it was never my fault.

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