Autism in Girls and Boys: Why the Differences Matter and How You Can Help Your Daughter Get the Support She Needs

Key Points

• According to studies, autism can appear differently in boys and girls, and this condition can be harder to recognise in the latter.
• Autism usually manifests in various ways among girls, making it more challenging for parents and doctors to notice than in boys.
• This condition is diagnosed more frequently in boys, which is known to affect how they play, behave, and communicate with others.
• It’s important to recognise the signs of autism in girls to prevent them from missing out on vital supports that can help them feel more confident and comfortable.

Summary

According to research, autism can appear differently in boys and girls. Since many studies on autism tend to focus on male subjects, this condition has become more challenging to detect in girls, which tends to manifest in different ways. Failing to provide girls with the proper autism diagnoses can cause them to miss out on essential support services that can help them address their condition. 

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Why It’s Harder to Spot Autism in Girls
3. How Boys and Girls Show Autism Differently
4. Why It Matters to Catch Autism in Girls Early
5. What Parents Can Look For
6. Moving Forward: How to Support Your Daughter
7. Want Further Assistance?

When it comes to understanding autism, it’s no surprise that there are so many questions, especially if you’re noticing signs in your child.

Research has shown that autism often looks different in girls compared to boys, and these differences can make autism harder to recognise in girls. Let’s talk about why that happens and what it might mean if you’re wondering whether your daughter could be on the spectrum.

Why It’s Harder to Spot Autism in Girls

A lot of the early research on autism was focused on boys. Because of this, the signs that doctors have traditionally looked for are often the ones most common in boys.

Girls with autism, though, might show their autism in different ways. They might not have the same obvious behaviours as boys, which can make it harder for parents, teachers, and even doctors to notice.

There’s also this concept called “masking” that’s important when it comes to autism in girls. Masking means that girls often learn how to hide or “mask” their autistic traits.

For instance, they might copy the way their friends act or speak, even if they don’t fully understand why.

Girls are often very motivated to fit in socially, so they pick up on these little things as a way to blend in. But while this helps them avoid standing out, it also hides the signs that might otherwise lead to an autism diagnosis.

Masking can take a lot of mental and emotional energy, and for many girls, it can lead to feeling drained, anxious, or even depressed over time.

How Boys and Girls Show Autism Differently

Autism is diagnosed in boys much more often than in girls. In fact, boys are about four times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis. But researchers are starting to realise that this might be partly because so many girls are missed. It’s now thought that the real ratio could be closer to three boys for every one girl—meaning a lot of girls who should be diagnosed aren’t.

So, why does autism look different between boys and girls? There are a few big reasons:

• Social Play: Boys with autism may tend to play alone, which makes it more noticeable when they’re not joining in group activities with other boys.
  
  Girls, however, often manage to “go along” with the group, even if they’re not totally comfortable. They might follow along in play without standing out as much, so they seem more socially adjusted than they actually feel.
  
• Repetitive Behaviours and Special Interests: Boys with autism often have a single, intense focus on one subject, like train schedules or dinosaurs.
  
  Girls might also have strong interests, but these interests can look more “typical” (think a fascination with a certain movie star or a hobby), so it doesn’t raise as many red flags.
  
• Social Communication: Boys with autism often struggle with social communication from a young age, but girls tend to cope better in early childhood.
  
  The differences usually become clearer as girls reach their teenage years, where social interactions get more complex.
  
  At this point, girls with autism often find it harder to keep up with all the unspoken social rules and expectations, making the challenges of autism more visible.

Why It Matters to Catch Autism in Girls Early

When girls don’t get an autism diagnosis, they miss out on early support that could help them feel more confident and comfortable, such as support services for autism from NDIS. Not knowing about their autism can mean extra challenges in school and social situations, especially if they feel like they’re “different” but don’t know why.

Girls with undiagnosed autism also face a higher risk of developing mental health issues, like anxiety or depression. These struggles often come from the pressure of always trying to mask or hide how they feel, which can be exhausting.

The sooner girls are diagnosed, the sooner they can learn about their unique strengths and get the support they need to navigate social life, school, and relationships.

What Parents Can Look For

If you think your daughter might be on the autism spectrum, it’s worth exploring. Trust your instincts, even if her symptoms don’t match the more obvious signs you might see in boys. Here are a few things to consider:

• Energy changes or mood shifts after social situations: Girls who are constantly masking might come home from social events feeling drained or upset without an obvious reason. This could be a sign she’s working hard to “fit in” and struggling inside.

• Strong but common interests: Girls with autism might have a strong fixation on certain interests, like a TV show or a particular hobby, but these can look pretty typical compared to a boy’s intense focus on specific facts. Keep an eye out if her interests seem to take up a lot of her time and attention.

• Anxiety or sadness: Many girls with undiagnosed autism experience anxiety or depression. This often comes from feeling like they’re out of step with their peers but don’t quite understand why.

Moving Forward: How to Support Your Daughter

If you suspect your daughter might be on the autism spectrum, consider discussing it with a doctor or specialist who understands these gender differences.

The more autism is studied, the clearer it becomes that girls show their traits differently. Being aware of these differences can help you advocate for her and get her the right support.

At the end of the day, understanding the unique ways autism can show up in girls allows us to see them more clearly, and that can make all the difference in helping them grow up feeling accepted, understood, and confident in who they are.

Want Further Assistance?

If you or someone you know needs help accessing support services for autism, then make sure to reach out to AIIM Choices. We can serve as your personal guide in navigating through the application process.

Through our tailored Application Assistance service, we’ll help you and your child become part of this initiative, allowing you to access life-changing autism funding and support from the NDIS.

Also, we are a trusted plan management provider that operates in Wodonga, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, and Perth.

Through our experienced and reliable Plan Managers, we’ll oversee the daily administration of your plan, which includes settling your invoices from service providers, monitoring your funding, and making sure that the supports you’re getting are aligned with your goals.

Contact AIIM Choices today to learn how we can help you and your child create a better life through our Application Assistance and Plan Management services.

We have acknowledged the organisations listed below and provided relevant links that offer valuable insights and research to serve as the foundation for generating this blog.

1. Autism Awareness Australia: https://navigating-autism.teachable.com
2. Verywell Health: https://www.verywellhealth.com/
3. Frontiers: https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2024.1111693