Often Overlooked: Girls with Autism

Presenter:

Dr. Rachel Fein, LP, BCBA

Overview:

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties related to social communication and interaction, as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. The current prevalence rate for autism in the United States in 1 in 44 children. This is an increase from the last CDC estimate of 1 in 54 children. However, what remains the same is that males are 4 times more likely to be identified with ASD than females. Some researchers have found that it is two times more common in males with moderate-to-severe intellectual disability, six times more common in males with IQ above 70, and 9 to 10 times more common in males with “high functioning autism” or what was previously known as Asperger’s. There is recent research to challenge the CDC’s current sex ratio for autism (4:1; males: females) and to indicate lower sex ratios for the autism spectrum than those previously observed. Further, there is ongoing research meant to explain the possible reasons as to why females are less likely to be identified as autistic compared to males. Possible explanations include barriers to diagnosis, biases in diagnostic tools, the Female Protective Effect, Adolescent Emergence Hypothesis, Female Autism Phenotype, and gender diversity. This webinar seeks to review the possible explanations for the discrepancy in diagnosis between males and females, as well as identify clinical considerations for practice.

 Learning Objectives 

1. Describe the most up to date sex ratio in autism.
2. Outline possible reasons for the discrepancy in diagnosis of autism between males and females.
3. Identify common screening and diagnostic tools for autism.
4. List clinical considerations related to the assessment of females with suspected autism.

CE Credits Available: 1.0

Pricing with CE: $20 for Members / $30 for Non-Members / $5 for Students

Pricing with no CE: $10 for Members / $20 for Non-Members

A link to the webinar will be sent to attendees on Nov. 30.