Milder Autism Typically Diagnosed Later in Girls
They're more likely to show social awkwardness rather than physical symptoms, study finds
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Girls on the milder end of the autism spectrum tend to be diagnosed at a later age than boys, possibly because their symptoms are less severe, a new study has found.
Doctors diagnosed girls with Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder months later than boys who had the same disorders, according to the study.
This appears to be because mild autism in girls takes the form of social awkwardness, and is less readily apparent than the physical symptoms that boys with mild autism display, said study co-author Dr. Paul Lipkin, director of the Interactive Autism Network at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
"The girls' problems seemed greatest in terms of social interpretation, which is obviously much more subtle and less apparent," Lipkin said. "Boys were worse than the girls in areas that involve repetitive behaviors or unusual mannerisms. The problems the boys were having were overt and more readily recognized."
Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental problems that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that one in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder.
Results of the new study were scheduled to be presented Tuesday at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in San Diego. Findings presented at meetings are generally considered preliminary until they've been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Autism is found much more often in boys than in girls, which has raised the question of whether some girls with autism go undiagnosed.
"We know there is this unbalanced ratio, with about four times as many boys being diagnosed as girls, and we don't know why that is," said Dr. Paul Wang, senior vice president of medical research at Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization.
This delay in diagnosis could mean a tougher road for girls with autism, since children with autism do best when the disorder is caught and treated early, Wang said.
To explore this gender difference, researchers analyzed data from the Interactive Autism Network, an online registry of almost 50,000 individuals and family members affected by autism spectrum disorder.
Milder Autism Typically Diagnosed Later in Girls
They're more likely to show social awkwardness rather than physical symptoms, study finds
TUESDAY, April 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Girls on the milder end of the autism spectrum tend to be diagnosed at a later age than boys, possibly because their symptoms are less severe, a new study has found.
Doctors diagnosed girls with Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder months later than boys who had the same disorders, according to the study.
This appears to be because mild autism in girls takes the form of social awkwardness, and is less readily apparent than the physical symptoms that boys with mild autism display, said study co-author Dr. Paul Lipkin, director of the Interactive Autism Network at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
"The girls' problems seemed greatest in terms of social interpretation, which is obviously much more subtle and less apparent," Lipkin said. "Boys were worse than the girls in areas that involve repetitive behaviors or unusual mannerisms. The problems the boys were having were overt and more readily recognized."
Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental problems that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that one in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder.
Results of the new study were scheduled to be presented Tuesday at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in San Diego. Findings presented at meetings are generally considered preliminary until they've been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Autism is found much more often in boys than in girls, which has raised the question of whether some girls with autism go undiagnosed.
"We know there is this unbalanced ratio, with about four times as many boys being diagnosed as girls, and we don't know why that is," said Dr. Paul Wang, senior vice president of medical research at Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy organization.
This delay in diagnosis could mean a tougher road for girls with autism, since children with autism do best when the disorder is caught and treated early, Wang said.
To explore this gender difference, researchers analyzed data from the Interactive Autism Network, an online registry of almost 50,000 individuals and family members affected by autism spectrum disorder.