Autism Diagnosis Timing Varies by Sex
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By
February 6, 2026
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3 min
Recent research shows that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses are more prevalent in boys during childhood, while girls are often diagnosed later in adolescence or early adulthood. An analysis of over 2.7 million individuals in Sweden from 1985 to 2022 revealed a decrease in the male-to-female diagnosis ratio, reaching near equality by age 20. This indicates a potential narrowing of the gender gap in ASD recognition. Limitations of the study include reliance on register data, affecting detailed symptom assessment and generalizability to diverse populations.
1. ASD diagnoses are more frequent in boys during childhood. 2. Girls often diagnosed later, in adolescence. 3. Study analyzed over 2.7 million individuals in Sweden. 4. Median age at diagnosis is 14.3 years. 5. Male-to-female diagnosis ratio declined over time. 6. Highest ASD incidence rates during 2020-2022. 7. Limitations include reliance on registry data. 8. Systemic biases in diagnosis may affect autism recognition in females.
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