Why

Studies exploring the very early development of Autistic females have largely been comprised of those diagnosed at a young age. This limits our understanding of how autism may present in early childhood for those who are diagnosed later.

What does early development look like for females diagnosed with autism later in life? What is their pathway to diagnosis? What are the barriers and facilitators to early diagnosis?

The research

Media

Sydney Morning Herald/The Age: The search to reveal why so many Autistic girls go undiagnosed (23 June 2024)

Making a difference

Research findings from this study will contribute to an increased understanding of the early developmental profile and pathway to diagnosis for females diagnosed with autism later in life:

• Some Autistic females may exhibit few of the social communication traits measured in screening tools during the early childhood period.
• Clinicians conducting assessments of older children need to be aware that social communication differences may not be overt or problematic until later in life when social demands become more complex.
• Certain behaviours such as sensory sensitivities and preference for sameness may be more predictive of later autism diagnoses than overt social differences.
• Autism should be a consideration when behavioural, social or mental health challenges emerge around the transition to adolescence in the absence of other explanations.

Research team

Dr Vicki Gibbs, Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP)

Dr Chris Edwards, ARCAP

Dr Abbey Love, ARCAP

Dr Ru Ying Cai, ARCAP

Funding

Aspect