In the US, four out of five people with an autism diagnosis are male. There is not broad consensus on exactly why such a sex disparity exists, how much is due to underdiagnosis in girls and women, versus a genuinely higher frequency in boys and men.
Some scientists are looking for neurological and genetic differences that may cause autism to present differently in girls and women. Meanwhile others are considering social factors that may account for the gap.
In a study of children displaying similar symptoms of autism, girls were much less likely to have a formal diagnosis than boys, and girls were diagnosed at older ages. Another study suggested that autistic girls have fewer “special interest” habits than autistic boys, however clinicians argue that it’s more likely current diagnostic criteria is biased to catch typically male-coded interests (like dinosaurs and trains) more than typically female-coded interests (like makeup and pop music).
Autism researcher Brenda Myles says gender biased socialization contributes to underdiagnosis.
“We overtly teach social skills to girls,” They are told not to get angry, they are told to be nice, they are told to share — all of those behaviors.”
The next time someone tells you there are more autistic boys than girls, ask them why they think that is.