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Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from a Large Sample of Children and Adolescents

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Abstract

Sex differences have been found amongst toddlers and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We investigated the presence and stability of these ASD sex differences throughout childhood and adolescence. Participants (N = 325, 52 females; aged 3–18 years) consecutively received an ASD diagnosis at a clinic for assessing high-functioning ASD (mean verbal IQ = 92.6). There were no IQ sex differences. By parent report and direct observation, females had less repetitive stereotyped behaviour (RSB), with male-equivalent levels of social and communication impairment. Teachers reported males with ASD as having greater externalising and social problems than females. The female phenotype we describe was stable across our sample’s age range. Their milder RSBs and less severe difficulties at school may lead to under-recognition of ASD in females.

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Notes

  1. The nuanced mean (n′) was calculated with the following formula: \( {\text{n}}\prime = [2({\text{n}}_{1} {\text{n}}_{2} )]/[{\text{n}}_{1} + {\text{n}}_{2} ] \).

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the young people and parents who generously gave up their time to take part in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1N 6BT, UK

    William Mandy

  2. Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, UK

    Rebecca Chilvers

  3. Bedfordshire CAMHS, South Essex Partnership NHS Trust, Bedford, UK

    Uttom Chowdhury

  4. Institute of Child Health, Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, University College London, London, UK

    Gemma Salter, Anna Seigal & David Skuse

Authors
  1. William Mandy
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  2. Rebecca Chilvers
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  3. Uttom Chowdhury
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  4. Gemma Salter
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  5. Anna Seigal
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  6. David Skuse
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Correspondence to William Mandy.

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Mandy, W., Chilvers, R., Chowdhury, U. et al. Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from a Large Sample of Children and Adolescents. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1304–1313 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1356-0

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