It's not just boys who are autistic

[jon_from_shef]

An article in the UK's Guardian newspaper (G2 section),  by Joanna Moorhead.  I havn't found a URL yet,  but I'll post one if I find it.

Anyone done a male v female aspie poll?

Comments

[mooncrab]

I'd be interested in seeing such a poll. I have a daughter with Asperger's, and I was told flat-out that pursuing a diagnosis for her would be 10 times more difficult because she was a girl. I have a rather small flist, but I've got two other mamas on there who firmly believe their daughter has Asperger's; and I don't doubt that they do. I have another mother-friend who has Asperger's herself. It seems to me that it's less about there being less female Aspies and more about there being less females diagnosed.

[huojin]

Sorry to butt-in as I know practically nothing about the subject, but have you tried any books on the subject? "Asperger's and Girls" has good reviews on Amazon. Might be an interesting read... I've got my hands on a copy but haven't started it yet.

[mooncrab]

I actually gave Asperger's and Girls a review on Amazon.com - a poor one, as that book is about 90% F-A-L-E.

Thanks, though. :)

[huojin]

too bad you didn't review it on .co.uk... I could have saved a tenner :P

[roshismomma]

my daughter has a preliminary dx of Aspergers but they may end up with a High Functioning Autism dx, we'll see. There is some good material by Tony Attwood about this about what the numbers are verus what they might actually be if diagnostic criteria were updated appropriately. There was a good New York Times article some months back, about autism in girls, but some of the girls in it have aspergers. I will try to find the URL. I'd be interested in the Guardian article.

[gydagwen]

The URL is http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,2283587,00.html

What did you think of the article? I was interested in the views about it being especially difficult for girls/women, and Id like to know others' opinions on that.

[roshismomma]

I don't know that I can speak to it being more difficult for girls/women because I am a woman, my daughter is a girl, and this is my only experience. that said, my own aspie-ish traits were never diagnosed as anything and considered my own personal failings growing up. That was fairly common then, however, I expected more when my own girl started demonstrating considerable issues. I've always been pushed aside by doctors, until very recently when a child psychologist who is also a dad at our school was able to help us with a preliminary diagnosis - it was the length of time he saw Rose as she was on the same soccer team as his daughter - that made him see. This is a big part of why I think it is so difficult. The girls are not being helped. They're invisible. And when they do join the community of autie and aspie kids, they are very often the only girl in the room.

[dazed_girl]

I often wonder how my life would be different if I was diagnosed when I was a kid. Would my life be better or worse?

I'm not so sure I agree that women have it worse off. The traits would vary in severity in females just as it does in males.

I also don't agree with females with autism spectrum disorders being over social, at least that isn't true in my particular case. I'm a more quiet and reserved person, and I usually keep my obsessions to myself unless I'm comfortable with the person, but that's just me.

[idiotgrrl]

Sure it's just boys. Just like they're the only ones who buy life insurance, go to movies, read Wired, watch Star Trek, read comic books, spend money on big ticket items like cars and computers ....

Don't get me started.