B3-E: “The Lost Girls”: Shining a Light on Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder

According to research, thousands of girls and women with autism go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Until recently, most of what we knew about autism was based on research studies of boys with autism. This failure to correctly diagnose females with autism can have a profound impact on their mental health. Almost 80% of females with autism have one co-occurring mental health diagnosis and 20% have had one psychiatric hospitalization by age 25. This presentation will cover the female autism phenotype, wats to better identify females, and how to best support them.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Recognize the unique profile of autism spectrum disorder in girls and women
2. Understand how to apply to DSM-5 autism spectrum disorder criteria to females
3. Understand the common mental health challenges experienced by girls and women
4. Increase knowledge of the tools and supports specific to supporting girls and women

Speakers