Scientists discover key clue in fight against autism – reason why MILLIONS go undiagnosed
Millions of young girls with autism could be going undiagnosed because their symptoms are milder than boys, shock research has suggested.
Experts have long claimed that are men are, on average, four times more likely be diagnosed with the condition than women.
But US researchers now believe this may be because girls mask the tell-tale signs and have ‘milder’ symptoms.
The findings have prompted concern that girls are missing out on key treatment and therapy that is leaving them prone to other health issues later on.
It comes as the number of children seeking help for suspected autism has spiralled to an all-time high in Covid’s wake, official data shows.
According to latest NHS figures, almost 130,000 under 18s in England were still awaiting an assessment in December 2024—a six-fold increase on the 20,000 logged in December 2019.
Experts have long warned that young people are facing an an ‘invisible crisis’, with a system that has repeatedly failed to keep pace with rising demand.
In the fresh research, the largest study to date on the topic, scientists tracked the health data of over 3,100 children who had an older sibling with an autism diagnosis and over 1,400 children without.
Experts have long claimed that are men are, on average, four times more likely be diagnosed with the condition than women (stock image)
All were aged between one and three years old.
Using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a gold standard tool used to help make a diagnosis, the researchers identified autism-related behaviours and symptoms on a 4-point scale.
These included social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviour—including unusual eye contacts, response to name, literal use of words and phrases and unusual sensory interest in play activity or person.
They found girls with autism, had fewer difficulties than boys in terms of eye contact and social impairment, scoring lower on the 4-point scale.
Among the children who already had a sibling with an autism diagnosis, boys were twice as likely to get a diagnosis than girls—lower than the four times ratio.
Writing in the journal JAMA Network Open, they said the findings indicate ‘a need to develop measures to robustly capture autism symptoms in young females’.
Currently cases may be being missed because the existing diagnostic criteria for autism does not take these differences into account, they added.
‘Failing to account for these sex differences in the population has reinforced historical biases by considering autism a male-dominant disorder.’
It comes as the Children’s Commisioner Dame Rachel de Souza (pictured) last year warned that kids forced to wait years for autism diagnoses on the NHS are being ‘robbed’ of their childhoods
It comes as autism waiting lists in England have repeatedly failed to keep pace with rising demand.
While some experts attribute the rise to expanded use of screens and technology and reduced stigma, others argue that biological and environmental factors may also play a role.
Last year, the Children’s Commissioner warned that children left languishing for years on waiting lists were effectively being ‘robbed’ of their childhoods.
Autism is not a disease and people have it from the moment they are born, although it may not be spotted until childhood and sometimes much later.
Autism exists on a spectrum. Some people will be able to lead fully functioning lives with no additional help. Others may need full-time assistance.
Experts have previously warned boys are more likely to be referred and get a diagnosis—because there symptoms tend to be more pronounced—rather than a genetic predisposition.
For example, the NHS notes that autistic girls may hide some signs of autism by copying how other children behave and play.
