Girls and Boys

While boys' social communication issues become challenging very early in their lives, girls may be able to manage the social demands of early childhood but run into difficulties as they enter early adolescence.

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Girls with autism are less likely to behave aggressively and more likely to be passive or withdrawn. It is fairly common for girls with autism to appear socially competent as youngsters because they are "taken under the wings" of other girls who enjoy mentoring their peers. These mentors often fade out of the picture as they enter adolescence and find other interests or groups of friends.

According to the Kennedy Krieger report, Boys with ASD may tend to engage in disruptive behavior to gain objects, while girls with ASD may tend to engage in disruptive behavior to get attention.

Girls with autism are more likely than boys to also suffer from anxiety and/or depression.

While girls with autism do have perseverative interests, they are more likely to choose interests (such as TV stars or music) that appear more typical than, for example, many boys' perseverative interests in schedules, statistics, or

Shana Nichols, Clinical Director at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, suggests that girls be evaluated in simple social settings where peers are not likely to jump in and provide support or answer questions on the girl's behalf. She also suggests that girls who come close to meeting autism criteria when they are young should be as they approach adolescence.