![]() ![]() Rather than being accepted for who they are, they are told to act normal, be a good girl, or be socially appropriate,” says Oswald. “They may start to feel shame and believe there is something wrong with them. When autistic girls and women express their feelings, they may be told a number of invalidating things, rather than receiving support, says Oswald. “She may learn to withdraw because it’s safer than the painful experience of sharing her thoughts and being misunderstood.” 5. This feels very confusing for an autistic girl who has good intentions,” she explains. “They may share an observation that seems harmless to them, but the other person takes it as an insult. Social withdrawalĪutistic girls may tend to have a more direct communication style, which may come across as blunt, says Tasha Oswald, PhD,, a licensed psychologist in Palo Alto, California. ![]() “This trait often draws autistic folks, particularly autistic women, toward caring professions like social work, nursing, and psychotherapy.” 4. “Outside of the traits formally listed in the DSM-5, we know that a trait like hyper-empathy can be a common experience among autistic folks,” says Kaye-O’Connor. Hyper-empathy is an elevated version of this. Hyper-empathyĮmpathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand what they may be feeling or experiencing. They may have a higher ability to maintain relationships with other people and adjust their behavior according to what’s needed or expected of them in a given social context. Social awarenessĪutistic girls may be more socially aware, overall, than their male counterparts. “Sometimes this form of masking is automatic and instinctual, and the autistic person may not even realize they are copying others.” 2. MirroringĪutistic females may be more likely than males to copy other people’s mannerisms, speech patterns, or personas, says Kaye-O’Connor. Other behaviors may also point to differences in autism in girls and women, especially for those who have average or above-average intelligence. “We know that girls and women are often skilled at masking or camouflaging their autistic traits, so they may not receive a diagnosis until much later,” she explains. They may also vary according to the situation and change over time.Īutism may present differently in girls, women, and nonbinary people, says Sharon Kaye-O’Connor, a licensed clinical social worker in New York City. This means that these differences may be more or less marked in some people. even if autism co-occurs with intellectual disability, these differences aren’t explained by it or by developmental delaysĪutism is a spectrum disorder.these differences are present from the early developmental stages.these differences lead to significant challenges in social, academic, or occupational areas of life.low or high reactions to sensory stimuli or intense interest in sensory aspects of the surroundings.narrow list of interests with intense curiosity or focus on them. ![]() difficulty adapting to change or preference for the same routines and rituals.persistent challenges in social communication and interaction, including emotional reciprocity, nonverbal behaviors, and the ability to understand and maintain relationships.Instead, this list of criteria for diagnosis is used for everyone: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) doesn’t provide a separate list of signs of autism for males and females. ![]()
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