Two women seated at a table, each holding paint brushes, engaged in a creative painting activity
Posted inAutism and gender Health and wellbeing

Like many women, I didn’t know I was autistic until adulthood –how late diagnosis can hurt mental health and self image

For many women, an adult autism diagnosis feels like a "lightbulb moment" of self-understanding. For Dr Moseley, their own came in their late 20s, reshaping how they viewed their lifelong struggles to fit in. While autism in girls often goes unnoticed, growing awareness is helping more women to find clarity and community.
Two girls stroll along a path
Posted inAutism and gender News

Autism in Girls and Women

Autism in girls and women often presents differently than in males, with many girls masking their symptoms, leading to underdiagnosis and a need for more nuanced assessment approaches to uncover their unique experiences and support needs.
Autism in Girls
Posted inAutism and gender Autism perspectives Autism supports

Autism in Girls

Studies at OTARC and elsewhere have shown that infants and toddlers show early signs of Autism, which can be observed from the first year of life. These are first characterized by a lack of attention to social stimuli, and usually progress into clearer Autism symptoms throughout toddlerhood and the preschool years (Clifford & Dissanayake, 2008). Similarly, studies investigating the early development of restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) in Autistic children have highlighted that certain RRBs are present in toddlerhood, with others becoming more evident over time (Leekam et al., 2011). These early signs are now used for the early identification of Autism in infants and toddlers.