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It's official - there's no autism gender gap
Boys are diagnosed earlier but girls catch up later
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Tuesday 17th February 2026 |
A major new study has challenged the long-held belief that autism is significantly more prevalent in males, revealing that the diagnosis gap between sexes largely disappears by adulthood.
Historically, boys have been approximately three times more likely to be diagnosed as autistic than girls.
However, research published in the BMJ involving 2.7 million people in Sweden found that while boys are diagnosed more frequently in childhood, women experience a "catch-up" effect.
By the age of 20, women are almost as likely to have received an autism diagnosis as men.
Experts suggest this indicates that young girls are often missed or misdiagnosed due to systemic biases in clinical assessment or because they mask their condition.
Gina Rippon, a professor at Aston University, described the findings as "powerful", noting that the reliance on clinical data might even mean these figures are conservative.
The implications of missed early diagnoses are significant.
Delayed recognition means autistic people may struggle without necessary support or receive incorrect treatment for conditions such as anxiety or ADHD.
The study highlights the urgent need to address how autism is recognised in girls to ensure they receive critical care earlier in life.
Source: Scientific American (USA)
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/
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