Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have challenged long-held assumptions about the prevalence of autism among males and females. A recent study analyzing data from over 2.7 million people born between 1985 and 2020 found that, contrary to popular perception, girls are as likely as boys to be autistic.
In fact, the study revealed that diagnosis rates for girls were nearly equal to those for boys by the age of 20, although they were still three to four times more likely to receive a diagnosis under the age of 10. The median age at diagnosis for girls was 15.9, compared to 13.1 for boys.
One key finding from the study is that girls with autism are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed until later in life due to biases in diagnostic tools and methods. According to experts, this can lead to delayed access to vital support services, exacerbating mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Autism charities have welcomed the findings, but emphasized the need for further action to tackle long-standing stereotypes surrounding autism. The National Autistic Society's Dr Judith Brown noted that "gender should never be a barrier to receiving an autism diagnosis and access to the right support," while Ambitious about Autism's Jolanta Lasota pointed out that autistic girls have been "misunderstood, explained away, or even ignored" for too long.
The study's lead author, Dr Caroline Fyfe, concluded that "the gender difference in autism prevalence is much lower than previously thought." As the research continues to shed light on the experiences of autistic girls and women, it is essential that we work towards a more inclusive understanding of autism, one that prioritizes their unique needs and perspectives.
In fact, the study revealed that diagnosis rates for girls were nearly equal to those for boys by the age of 20, although they were still three to four times more likely to receive a diagnosis under the age of 10. The median age at diagnosis for girls was 15.9, compared to 13.1 for boys.
One key finding from the study is that girls with autism are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed until later in life due to biases in diagnostic tools and methods. According to experts, this can lead to delayed access to vital support services, exacerbating mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Autism charities have welcomed the findings, but emphasized the need for further action to tackle long-standing stereotypes surrounding autism. The National Autistic Society's Dr Judith Brown noted that "gender should never be a barrier to receiving an autism diagnosis and access to the right support," while Ambitious about Autism's Jolanta Lasota pointed out that autistic girls have been "misunderstood, explained away, or even ignored" for too long.
The study's lead author, Dr Caroline Fyfe, concluded that "the gender difference in autism prevalence is much lower than previously thought." As the research continues to shed light on the experiences of autistic girls and women, it is essential that we work towards a more inclusive understanding of autism, one that prioritizes their unique needs and perspectives.
I think this study is like a big wake-up call for all of us... we've been living in these stereotypes for so long, assuming boys are way more likely to be autistic than girls, but it turns out we were wrong! 
This makes me think about how we judge people based on expectations and biases. We should always strive to challenge our own assumptions and try to see things from different perspectives, just like this study is doing. 
And it's so important that autistic girls have been misunderstood or overlooked for too long... it's a big reminder that everyone deserves equal access to support and services, regardless of their age or gender! 
We can all learn from this study and become more inclusive and accepting of others, starting with the people who might need it most. 
. I mean, a study that says girls are as likely as boys to be autistic? That's still a pretty big deal, don't get me wrong. But we need to separate the stats from the reality here. I've got friends with autistic sisters and they're always telling me how frustrating it is when people assume they're just "shy" or "introverted". Like, nope, that's not what autism is. They need more than just a good therapist, they need more understanding and acceptance in everyday life.
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The fact that they're often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed till later in life because of biased tools is really worrying. We need to make sure everyone gets the support they need, regardless of their gender. 
researchers are finally telling us the truth about autism diagnosis rates for girls... for too long we've been led to believe that boys are 4x more likely to be autistic than girls, but it's not true 
! in fact, girls are just as likely to be autistic as boys, and they're being misdiagnosed or overlooked because of biases in testing tools and methods. this is SO important for me because i've known so many strong, amazing autistic women who have been misunderstood or ignored their whole lives 
I'm loving this study! I was thinking about autism and how it's so misunderstood, especially for girls 
. And yeah, it makes total sense that they get diagnosed later because the tests aren't designed with them in mind 
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. We can't just keep assuming everything is okay for them because of societal expectations 
. I've always thought there was something weird about how they only diagnose boys, but now it makes sense - girls are just as autistic but they get misdiagnosed or ignored because doctors think they're 'acting normally' 
This study is a game-changer and I hope it leads to more accurate diagnoses and better support for autistic girls and women 
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. It's time we started taking their experiences seriously and making sure they have access to all the support services they need 
. But it's crazy to think that girls are just as autistic as guys, yet get diagnosed way later and get more support too 
. It's like, we need to stop assuming everyone fits into these neat little boxes and actually listen to the ones who don't fit... or fit differently 
. It's like, how can we expect them to get the help they need if we don't even acknowledge their experiences? 
This study is a huge step forward in understanding autism, and it's so important that we work towards being more inclusive & supportive of autistic girls & women 
. We need to start challenging these outdated stereotypes and making sure that autistic girls and women get the recognition and care they deserve 
. And it's not just about the numbers, it's about how they're getting misdiagnosed or delayed in getting help because of biases 
. We gotta change the game! 