Prevalence of autism is 1:89 people in the UK, 1:68 in the USA. ​ There is a marked gender difference 1 female to 4 males​.

The gender differences have only recently been questioned. There is now considerable amounts of research happening which is exploring why this is the case.

• How females present in different ways to males and so…
• Does the screening / diagnostic process disadvantage girls and women by being based on typically male traits?

In short, it appears that

• the girls and women are too sociable. They have better social integration skills, tend to have friends, can mask or hide their difficulties. The diagnostic process is currently based on years of research on autistic males.
• It is more difficult to recognise autism in females as criteria are used that have been derived from observing autistic males.
• Girls’ special interests will tend to be more mainstream.
• Girls and women are reported to have fewer repetitive behaviours, or they choose socially acceptable self-calming techniques.

The diagnostic process follows observation and assessment in 4 main areas:

• Social interaction: social interaction is communication that occurs between at least two individuals. It involves the behaviour of individuals who are partaking in a joint activity
• Social communication: the ability to communicate or interact with others within a societal framework. It encompasses social interaction, social cognition, pragmatics, and language processing.
• Flexibility of thought: is the ability to cognitively think about something in a different way, to adapt to new, changing, or unplanned events.
• Sensory Processing: is the way the brain receives, organises and responds to sensory input in order to behave in a meaningful and consistent manner.  

There are also many indicators which fall in the areas of

• physical difficulties
• co-morbidities
• gender
• anxiety
• early infancy.

Auti-Ms has, through research and talking to a large cohort of autistic women and girls, devised a comprehensive list of indicators that can be used to self assess or support a GP / pediatrician referral.