One potential reason why girls are diagnosed later than boys is because females with autism spectrum disorder are more self aware of their behaviors and make a greater effort to mask their symptoms. They may be diagnosed later on when the social demands of life make it too difficult to do so. 


Girls May be Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Later Than Boys because They Mask Their Symptoms

 One reason why girls are diagnosed with ASD later than boys is because the diagnostic tests are designed to account for ASD symptoms that are more typical in boys and not for symptoms that are more commonly specific to girls. As a result, the diagnostic test may mistakenly conclude that a girl does not have ASD because she displays different symptoms than the ones the test is designed for. 


 Problems with the Diagnostic Criteria May Lead to Girls Being Diagnosed with  ASD Later than Boys 


- Girls might mask their symptoms 
 - Problems with Diagnostic Criteria 


Xavier University

Girls are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder much less frequently than boys. When they are diagnosed, it is much later. Girls are diagnosed five and a half years later than boys are. 


Girls Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at Later Ages Than Boys

Rynkiewicz, A. & Lucka, I. (2018). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in girls. Co-occurring psychopathology. Sex differences in clinical manifestation. Psychiatr. Pol. 52(4). https://doi.org/10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/58837 . 


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