People have not really known much about autism at one time and that too when it comes to girls. Although there is increased awareness about autism spectrum disorder among people there is still an issue. The diagnosis of girls and women is not being done enough. Many of them are in fact not diagnosed until they are much older.
Why Are So Many Autistic Girls and Women Still Missing Out on Early Identification? It is not due to the fact that autism is not common in girls. The issue is that the systems, which are applied to diagnose autism, were not created to consider girls.
A Diagnostic System That Was Made For Boys
One of the reasons why the girls with autism are not attended to is due to the manner in which autism has been researched in the past. The majority of the studies were conducted on boys and it continues to influence the diagnosis of autism in contemporary society. The typical symptoms of autism such as difficulties and repetitive behaviors are largely pegged on the actions of boys with autism.
There are girls with autism who do display these signs. Many do not.. They may present them in various forms, which are not readily observable. Due to this reason many girls with autism are never diagnosed due to their unsuitability to the profile of a child with autism.
The Ability To Hide Symptoms
Girls who have autism conceal their symptoms very well. They may be taught on how to behave as their peers make eye contact and smile at the moments. Outwardly they may appear to be doing alright in the social scene… They may feel disoriented, nervous and drained on the inside.
Such a capability to conceal symptoms can be highly useful in such a setting as school. Educators and parents may not be able to see anything unusual. They may simply believe that the girl is timid… Trying all the time to fit in is not very good with the mental health of a person.
When Differences Seem Normal
The expectation of the behavior of both boys and girls by the people they live around contributes to the low early diagnosis of girls with autism. When a boy does not want to be with people it may be an indication that something is wrong.. When a girl does the same thing she may be regarded as quiet or polite.
An example would be when a boy is actually interested in something such as trains it may be viewed as a symptom of autism.. In case a girl is genuinely interested in books or animals it is considered to be a usual hobby. Such minor variation in the thinking of people about girls and boys may imply that a lot of symptoms of autism in girls are overlooked or interpreted as their character.
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Ways Of Coping That Hide Struggles
Girls with autism tend to come up with a way to overcome their difficulties to enable them to go unrecognized. Instead of attempting to join a large group of people, they may have one or two friends. They may prefer to use routines or engage in activities, such as reading, writing or drawing.
Although such coping mechanisms can assist them to live through the life they are going through they also conceal the issues they are experiencing. This may mean that their hardships are not realized, although they are in the middle of a lot of stress.
Being Diagnosed With The Wrong Thing
After getting a diagnosis of autism, many girls get a diagnosis of other disorders such as anxiety, depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In some cases, such diagnoses are accurate. In many cases, they fail to realize that the root of the problem is autism.
This may imply that their assistance is incomplete or ineffective. Without knowing the true cause of their problem the solutions may fail to work.
The Longer It Takes To Diagnose Autism The More Problems There Will Be
The longer it takes to diagnose autism the more problems can build up over time. Difficulties with interactions being sensitive to certain sounds or sights and controlling emotions can all get worse especially when girls become teenagers and adults.
Not Diagnosing Autism Early Can Have Serious Consequences
Failure to diagnose autism early may be disastrous. Girls with autism may have a difficult time at school, so they will not feel lonely or be bullied. Most of them are raised knowing that they are not like the rest. They are unaware of the reasons.
The fact that they are eventually diagnosed when they are adults is both a relief and frustrating. On the one hand it may be useful to realize what is happening. On the one hand it is annoying to consider how many years they had to spend.
Autistic girls who are not diagnosed are also more prone to health problems. Burnout, anxiety and depression can be the results of the stress of concealing their symptoms, as well as the failure to receive the help.
We Need To Do Better At Diagnosing Autism In Girls
In order to detect autism in girls earlier we should be able to alter our thoughts about it. How we diagnose it.
The way autism is diagnosed must first change. Scientists and physicians are beginning to understand that autism may manifest differently in boys and girls and the diagnostic instruments they employ must reflect it.
The second education is essential. Parents, teachers and healthcare professionals must be aware of the apparent symptoms of autism in girls such as experiencing tiredness due to social activity with great interests which are regarded as normal in girls or attempting to imitate the actions of others.
Conclusion
Finally we should be able to provide an environment where girls can feel safe to be themselves and not feel the need to be hidden. Girls are under pressure to act as they would like to be there.
