Aspergers Syndrome in women and girls by Tania Marshall
Written on 8th Nov 2013 by Alex Lowery
ASPERGER SYNDROME/HFA IN GIRLS AND WOMEN
This article is written by Tania Marshall is the CEO and Founder of Aspiengirl and Planet Aspien, she is an Autism Specialist, successful Author and Doctoral student. Tania has given me permission to share this article.
The female profile of Asperger’s Syndrome has largely been ignored in research (compared to male research) and in definitions of Aspergers Syndrome. This is due to a strong gender bias, with females known as ‘research orphans’, according to Yale’s Ami Klin. Many girls and women with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism fly under the radar undetected by health professionals or are misdiagnosed, which then leads to years of misdirected treatment and interventions.
The diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome in girls and women is one of the newest areas in Autism research and in clinical/anecdotal experience. Most children referred for a diagnostic assessment for Asperger Syndrome are boys. However, in very recent times, an influx of females on the Autism Spectrum has caused researchers and clinicians to take notice. Females tend to be missed in the diagnostic process.
1. They develop the ability to ‘disappear’ in a large group, often being on the perimeter/periphery or the ‘outer; of the group or of the social interaction of the group, the ‘quiet’ one.
2. They tend to use coping and camouflaging mechanisms, which include imitating, social echolalia and acting to conceal their confusion when playing with others.
3. They use the strategy of waiting, watching, observing carefully and then participating when they are sure of what to do, by imitating other people and/or what they have done previously. What they have done previously may be inappropriate to the current situation.
4. They are usually quiet, are often well behaved and polite and thus left alone by teachers, peers or other support staff.
5. The presenting issue (for example, depression or anxiety or an eating disorder) becomes the focus of the assessment, diagnosis or treatment, and the overall most fitting term (Asperger’s Syndrome) is missed. Sensory, co-ordination and/or communication difficulties have been ignored.
6. Girls with Asperger Syndrome can appear to be neuro-typical (NT) due to their intelligent coping strategies. However, these coping mechanisms and strategies and the amount of energy and effort expended in ‘keeping up appearances’ takes an enormous toll on their energy and emotions. This toll can be extreme and for these girls, leave them ‘at-risk’ for depression, anxiety-related disorders and/or eating disorders as a result. The tiredness, social exhaustion, irritability/anger tend to make them a challenge to live with due to them often: melting down, upon returning home from school. Female ‘special interests’ are intense and often involve animals, fantasy, literature, celebrities, anime, writing or art. On the Autism Spectrum, girls tend to rigidly adhere to rules and routines, in addition to their own point of view. This lack of perspective taking can cause many difficulties in social, family and later, work relationships. Girls with Asperger’s Syndrome, from very young, can be observed using and applying their intelligence (usually high average to genius) to be reflective, and often, obsessive in their thoughts of particular social interactions. They are often very curious about human behaviours, questioning or thinking about social behaviours or unwritten social rules.
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