Autism: It's Different in Girls

Autism: It's Different in Girls is an article I recently discovered in Scientific American Mind. I found  is really interesting and helpful to keep in mind while working with gifted girls.  

Link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autism-it-s-different-in-girls/

Maia Szalavitz (on March 1, 2016) talks about girls with ASD "hiding" in different populations - 

                   "Further, because autism and ADHD often occur together—and because people              diagnosed with ADHD tend to have higher levels of autism traits than typical people do—girls who seem easily distracted or hyperactive may get this label, even when autism is more appropriate. Obsessive-compulsive behavior, rigidity and fear of change also occur in both people with autism and those with OCD, suggesting that autistic females might also be hidden in this group."

There are so many things I see overlapping in gifted individuals - the anxiety, the OCD, ADHD, the intensity, sensitivities, etc. that are also characteristics of ASD, that I wonder if there aren't a number of girls with ASD "hiding" in the gifted group as well. Not that it is all about determining the right label - as a colleague of mine says, "labels are for jam jars" but it seems helpful to have the full and accurate picture.  To be able to say, this is giftedness and asynchronous development and the isolation that can come from that...versus "this is giftedness - the isolation/anxiety may come from that, but this added piece is ASD, and the anxiety that is felt may need to be addressed by xyz" - perhaps very differently than originally intended.  It seems that even when symptoms are the same/similar, identifying the correct cause is vital to finding the right solution. 

Some Examples of ways ASD presents in Girls vs .Boys:  

• On measures of friendship quality and empathy, girls with Autism present as a typical boy of the same age, but lower than a typical girl of the same age. 
• Girls have a greater ability to hide their symptoms
• ASD girls have a greater desire to connect (whereas ASD boys can seem to not care if they have friends or not)
• Less repetitive behaviour
• With pretend play, they can camouflage too - ie. “pretend play” with barbies may be setting up a static visual scene rather than imagining a story line. 
• “Too” as the descriptor of these girls/women -too intense, too sensitive, too…
• Sensitivities, bothered by loud noises, certain textures, crowds
• Dominated by Anxiety - social issues, sensory issues,
• More often seen in anorexics - (23%) hyper focus on body image and control; rigid, detail oriented, 
• May be hidden in things like ADHD, OCD
• May not like to be held or cuddled as a child
• Struggle with the subtleties of flirting and dating
• Want to connect and cannot - tormented by loneliness, suicidal thoughts
• May have trouble washing hair, wearing deodorant, dressing appropriately because of sensitivities