Autism Assessor Reveals 3 Of The 'Most Common' Signs Of Autism In Girls
An autism assessor has opened up about some of the “most common” signs of autism he sees in girls.
Conor Mc Donagh, who runs Caerus Therapies, shared a TikTok video in which he noted that autistic girls are usually “very good at masking” so it’s “not always obvious” that they have it.
But there are certain signs that seem to crop up more frequently, in his experience, when a girl has autism.
What are the signs?
1. Being rule-bound and struggling with change
While girls with autism “often like to fit in and don’t make a big fuss”, Mc Donagh noted that they might struggle when routines change, or “get very upset when other children don’t play in the way that they’d like to do”.
2. Having difficulties with processing sensory information
Some autistic children can be very sensitive to noise, textures and even temperature – all known as sensory information.
Mc Donagh explained there are “many ways that we see this” in girls, but shared a few examples such as: not tolerating loud and sudden sounds, and struggling to focus and concentrate in a busy environment (like a classroom).
He added “they may be very fussy in particular about the types of clothes that they wear because of how they feel, or they may be poorly coordinated and quite resistant to engaging in sports”.
3. Intense interests
Autistic people can have intense interests that they like to spend a lot of time doing or thinking about, according to the National Autistic Society. Boys, for example, might gravitate towards dinosaurs, vehicles or a specific video game.
Mc Donagh said girls on the spectrum often choose interests that are a bit more “socially acceptable” such as Barbie or certain TV shows, and as they get older, it might become clothing and makeup.
“But you will recognise that they have an intense interest in these subjects, so they want to talk about it all the time, they want to read about it and explore it at every opportunity,” he added.
Other signs of autism in girls
Dr Mikki Lee Elembaby, a Manhattan-based psychologist from Clarity Therapy NYC who specialises in autism assessment and diagnosis, previously told HuffPost UK the signs we associate with autism tend to be more common among men and, as a result, many autistic women end up getting a diagnosis later in life.
The autism assessor and psychologist shared three signs of autism in girls that sometimes go under the radar. These include:
- being great at imaginative play, but struggling socially;
- finding friendships overwhelming and stressful;
- and repetitive behaviours that “look normal” like memorising TV scripts or collecting dolls.
If you think your child is autistic
The NHS says you can speak to a GP, health visitor (for children under five), any other health professional your child sees, or a special educational needs (SENCO) staff at your kid’s school if you think they might be autistic.
They may refer your child for an autism assessment.
This is important if you think your child is autistic, as it can help you to understand their needs better and get them (and you) the right support.