April is Autism acceptance month.
Like many women with autism, Dana Waters I had no idea that I was autistic until I was an adult.
«We really see each other different,» said the psychologist and professor at the University of Antioch in Seattle. «The evaluation measures developed as the standard were based on young white boys. The problem with early autism measures is that they are mainly based on family and teachers behavior analysis, and could not catch certain behaviors of girls and women.»
This can explain why Boys and men are more likely than girls be diagnosed with autism.
While autism diagnostic rates have increased significantly during the last decadeAdult women have seen the most notable increase, increasing by 315% for women compared to 215% for men.
While researchers do not know if more people are developing autism, it is believed that the increase in diagnoses is related to more people who recognize Signs of autism in women and go beyond long -standing gender prejudices in the detection of autism.
«Since autism is generally considered a ‘male disorder’, we lost many women who fit the criteria but did not show the stereotypical behaviors associated with the condition,» he said Hannah BelcherPostdoctoral professor and researcher at the King’s College in London that was diagnosed with autism as an adult. «Women often show a more internalized presentation, which means that they are often lost or discarded as» shy «or» introverted. «
For years, Men’s Diagnostic relationship has been 4: 1, but researchers believe that it is closer to 3: 1. Another investigation suggests on 8 of 10 autistic women He remained without diagnosing at 18.
The «mask» hides autism
Signs of autism in girls and women may include social difficulties, repetitive behaviors, sensory problems, struggles with executive function and self -regulation, and repetitive behaviors.
A girl with autism could «mask» their features through behaviors and movement that would not necessarily raise the flags to strangers, such as nail collection, counting on their head or perform other cognitive repetitive tasks. On the contrary, hyperactivity, draft statements and visual stimulus – Often seen in children, they are among the signs that parents and teachers can identify that they need more research.
Belcher and Waters also pointed out that girls can be better for learning scripts and social behaviors. Because they can have friendships, socialize with others and maintain visual contact, which are skills that are known to be difficult for many people with autism, people often lose signs that they have the condition.
«Girls socialize from an early age to fit with others, be educated, silent and empathic,» said Belcher. «He [stereotypical] The types of behaviors that go with autism are less tolerated in girls and, therefore, learn to hide them. Studies have shown that women with autism need to present themselves with a greater number of behavioral problems that his male counterparts to obtain a diagnosis, even when the central traits are the same ”.
The investigation also shows white children and children with more privileged socio -economic environments are They are more likely to be diagnosed with autism at previous ages than children of color and those of less privileged socio -economic environments.
The posterior diagnosis of autism can lead to worse results
An childhood without diagnosis can mean years of feeling that something is wrong but not knowing what. And those years of lack of support and intervention services in critical development stages can lead to worse physical and mental health until adulthood. The treatment of incorrect conditions and lack of treatment is likely. It is likely that women and girls with autism have concurrent health problems, chronic pain, gynecological problems as dysmenorrhea (painful periods) and greater struggles with postpartum depression and menopause.
According to Belcher, autism is often not considered a condition between girls and women until they seek help for other conditions, such as anxiety, depression or eating disorders. Even then, they can be erroneously diagnosed, further delaying adequate treatment and support. This can be a factor that contributes to why Suicide rates are also higher Between women and girls with autism.
«Having a diagnosis can help you know why you are fighting and why it is different, and help you better understand,» said Belcher.
Be awake
«It was certainly one of the girls who mixed in the carpentry,» Waters said. «I was one of those children who fell through the cracks and did it terribly at school. I just tried to hide and not get into trouble.»
Waters gives her sister credit for teaching her how to take notes and improve her study habits, which helped her finish her junior and senior high school with higher grades. She left the university after three months, but returned later to obtain an associated title and become a veterinary technician. She said she enjoyed the job and served well, giving her courage to return to school five years later. This time, he developed a love for psychology and obtained almost perfect grades in the undergraduate and postgraduate school while following that field.
Even so, Waters did not think about autism until 2012, when one of his students told him they had diagnosed him. Waters was surprised, thinking of popular culture representations such as Dustin Hoffman in «Rain Man» or others that required significant physical and emotional support to complete daily tasks.
However, the more the student spoke, the more he began to see some similarities in her own behavior. After taking an online test that left no doubt that he could be in the spectrum, Waters said his wife even joked «that makes a lot of sense,» when he shared his results.
«It looked a lot like my exit process,» Waters said. «In retrospect, you look and see things that were clear signs that I was autistic, but I was afraid because even less knew about the autism that I am now. Here I am, a clinical psychologist and I wonder:» Can I do this? » ‘Alright?’ ‘Are they going to remove my license?’ ‘What will happen?’ »
The waters were for professional tests and received a diagnosis that confirmed the online test. He finally told his president of the department in 2019, and he responded with a hug.
With the support of his institution and others, Waters was ready to help other women. She founded
The Awake project Advocate for women with autism and has developed a prosperous online community. You are also trained to diagnose patients in your private practice.
While the growing awareness of autism in adult women can help improve their quality of life, being able to obtain a diagnosis as soon as possible can have a significant benefit in the long -term mental health of women.
«I have a lot of hope that Zeitgeist is changing, especially with younger people who are diagnosed and try to dismiss autism,» Waters said. «Even speech since I started the Awake project is changing. My youngest audience online is far ahead of me in the sense of understanding a neurodivergenic mind, how it works and being able to help others.»
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