Education Commons^™

The Gender Gap In Asperger Syndrome: Where Are The Girls?, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

Although there has been a dramatic increase in the recognition of autism spectrum disorders over the past decade, a significant gender gap has emerged in the diagnosis of milder forms, such as high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome. Statistics indicate that while boys are being referred and identified in greater numbers, this is not the case for girls. Girls are also diagnosed at later ages compared to boys. In this article, the author discusses possible explanations for the underidentification of girls with high functioning autism and Asperger syndrome. A case vignette is used to illustrate the gender differences relevant to …