Autism in girls and young women continues to be underdiagnosed due to subtler symptoms and social masking, prompting calls for updated screening practices.
Girls and young women with autism are still being missed, not because the condition is necessarily less common in them, but because it can look different and be harder to spot, according to the Dubai Autism Centre. The centre said lower diagnosis rates among girls may reflect the way symptoms emerge and how they are interpreted by adults around the child, rather than a true difference in prevalence.
That concern is echoed in research cited by the centre. A systematic review on barriers to diagnosing autism in girls and young women identified four main reasons for missed or delayed detection: different social and behavioural presentation, the ability to compensate for difficulties in social situations, limited public awareness and unintentional bias in diagnosis. A US study in 2023 found that females received their first autism diagnosis, on average, 14 months later than males, with the longest delays seen in cases where symptoms were milder, less typical or emerged later in development.
Mohammed Al Amadi, director general and board member of the Dubai Autism Centre, said the gap deserves greater attention because a lower diagnosis rate does not mean fewer girls are autistic. He said some girls are better able to adapt to social situations or copy socially accepted behaviour, which can make their difficulties less obvious to parents, teachers and even specialists, particularly when language and cognitive skills are strong. He added that early diagnosis depends on looking at the child’s overall development, communication, social interaction, interests and repetitive or sensory-related behaviours, rather than waiting for one clear sign.
Dr Nicholas Orland, executive director for educational and therapeutic programmes at the centre, said one of the biggest challenges is that autistic girls do not always fit the stereotype long associated with the condition. According to Orland, some girls learn to mask their difficulties by watching others, copying their behaviour or memorising conversation patterns. He said this can create the impression that they are coping well, even when social interaction is exhausting or when they struggle with change, flexibility or sensory processing. Orland said diagnosis should draw on input from family, school and direct observation, not a single appointment, and argued that recognising the condition early gives children and families a better chance to build the support and skills they need.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
