How does Asperger's Syndrome (AS) Manifest Itself In Females?
Answer:
It is my opinion that AS looks different in girls.
Their symptoms are the same except they will be presented differently and one must look for this differences.
Girls are socialized earlier and more effectively so they often "slip through the cracks" instead of being diagnosed as early as boys. Professionals tend to look for the typical AS symptoms which may be different in girls. For instance, girls may make eye contact better or know how to answer a question better. They have just been trained to more verbal and have better communication skills. People treat male and female babies differently and this may help AS girls cope better. They may be touched more and urged to express feelings. The are talked to more. In other words, they get needed social skills training earlier. They can sometimes fake being "normal" better. They may seem more social because it is more acceptable to help a girl with friends instead of urging them to do this for themselves.
I believe they are sometimes less of a behavioral problem (especially in school). Instead of lashing out and having an external meltdown, they turn inward and cry more. They may be perfectionists.
Overall they just are overlooked in diagnosis. They may be misdiagnosed as having social phobia or a schizoid personality disorder.
Another example of a difference may be that boys are attracted to trains whereas a girl may not be exposed to trains therefore her focused interest may be on something different. This train attraction is often noted as a symptom of AS, but if not given trains, this would not be the case with a girl. Instead they may focus on maps, schedules or something they are given as a girl.
A girl may not show the clumsiness that a boy would if she isn't pushed into sports or rough housing as much. Maybe her clumsiness shows up in the way she walks, perhaps not swinging her arms as typical in other (non AS) girls or taking small mincing steps.
My daughter is now a young adult with AS. We went through a lot and all the experts resisted diagnosing her as AS because she wasn't a boy and didn't present symptoms that were typical of a boy with AS. We gave up until a knowledgable doctor recognized it finally. I haven't read it yet, but a good resource may be Asperger's and Girls
by Tony Attwood, Temple Grandin, Ruth Snyder, Sheila Wagner, Catherine Faherty.
Mostly the same as in males. Spending time alone, fascination with parts of objects or intense interest in a few main interests, lack of skill at interpreting facial expressions or voice tones, etc. You will need to see a doctor to be sure, however.
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