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Study by Simon Baron-Cohen on differences in females:
http://docs.autismresearchcentre.com/pa ... %20ASC.pdf"While this study has documented that adult women with ASC present fewer current socio-communication symptoms, it is an open question as to the underlying reasons for such an effect. Our cross-sectional design is not able to address this question directly and a longitudinal study would be needed to mark developmental changes to explain such differences. However, the contrast between evident childhood symptoms and reduced current autistic interpersonal features fits with anecdotal reports from women on the autistic spectrum [53,54,55,66] as well as our participants’ and their caregivers’ subjective experiences described in the research interviews. This suggests that able women with ASC may be more motivated and may put more effort into developing compensatory skills that help them to appear "socially typical’’. Hence, females with ASC may show different developmental trajectories compared to their male counterparts. Indeed, experienced clinicians have observed that one reason females (girls or women) with ASC may be less easily identified is because of their ability to "camouflage’’ their autism [15,16]. This type of camouflaging may involve conscious, observational learning of how to act in a social setting and by adopting social roles and following social scripts [66]. Hence, a female teenager or adult with ASC may be able to develop reciprocal conversation, social use of affect, gestures and eye gaze, that would place them under the radar for the more commonly understood and recognizable (male) phenotype of ASC [15,19]. Some of the women with ASC reported they consciously "cloned’’ themselves on a popular girl in their class whilst at school, imitating their conversational style, intonation, movements, dress-style, interests, and other mannerisms, in minute detail. This suggests that – with the right motivation – learning can be a very effective compensation strategy and could even be exploited therapeutically. Women who adopt these camouflaging strategies nevertheless report that underneath their superficially sociable behavior they are often experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety as they have to work hard to keep up the mask, and that it is exhausting by the end of the day."
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http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/girls.html states:
"Like ADHD, symptoms of Asperger's are different in girls than boy, consequently, more boys are referred for an Asperger's assessment than girls; a ratio as high as 10:1 has been suggested. Despite that, epidemiological research suggests a ratio of 4:1 is more accurate, which means that there are potentially thousands of young girls with Asperger's who never get diagnosed.
The primary differences between Asperger's diagnoses in girls and boys seem to be caused by basic differences in the ways boys and girls express themselves. Aggressive behavior is more noticeable, and a child who is overly aggressive is more likely to be evaluated. Because girls have a greater ability to express their emotions, they're less likely to act out when they're upset, confused or overwhelmed. Without this behavioral "compass", the other aspects of Asperger's are more likely to go unnoticed.
Another similarity between ADHD and Asperger's in girls is that the symptoms are more passive in nature, which makes them more difficult to notice. Because the symptoms are milder, parents are also more reluctant to bring their daughter in for a diagnosis.
Some experts speculate that one reason fewer girls are diagnosed is because their peers are more likely to help them cope in social situations, which is where Asperger's symptoms are most readily identifiable. Nurturing is instinctive in females, and so the friends of a young girl with Aspergers will intuitively comfort her when she's upset, or guide her through social interactions. In contrast, boys tend to be more 'predatory' and therefore more likely to tease a boy with Asperger's. Because a girl's friends do their best to help her, her parents and/or teachers may never see symptoms - or may not see them often enough - that would warrant a clinical diagnosis.
One of the key symptoms common between boys and girls is a hyper-focused interest one particular thing or topic. For boys, the special interests are often in areas of science or transportation (trains or airplanes). In girls, the focus is often on animals or classic literature. The interest in and of itself isn't unusual, but a child with Asperger's will have an unusually intimate knowledge of his or her topic of interest. Young girls may play with dolls and have imaginary friends, which doesn't seem at all unusual. However, her interest in these things will continue even when she's a teenager and they should have been outgrown.
Because social situations are stressful and awkward for girls with Asperger's, they often learn to mimic people who have stronger social skills. They may adopt someone else's mannerisms, facial expressions and even vocal intonations. Again, this is sometimes misinterpreted - especially in older children or adults - and may be misdiagnosed as a personality disorder. "
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/13/girls-autism-sex-bias-children?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digest_12 an article on the failure to sufficiently diagnose females on the spectrum.
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Research and Information on how Girls with AS differ from boys and how girls are being failed
I have also read: "In an April 2009 article, Dr. Judith Gould of the UK's National Autistic Society was quoted as saying: "We're failing girls at the moment. We are doing many thousands of them a great disservice. They are either not being picked up in the first place, but if they ask for help they are being turned away. Even if they are referred for diagnosis, they are commonly rejected."
This is quite true of adult females, as well."
"Surviving in the world often requires masking the symptoms of AS, or avoiding the situations which trigger symptoms. As I wrote yesterday, there are adults on the spectrum learn to do this very well. Especially women."
There's loads out there if you start looking.
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*Truth fears no trial*
DX AS & both daughters on the autistic spectrum
19 Aug 2012, 11:24 pm
