I'm An Autism Assessor — These 6 Signs In Women Are Often Overlooked
Receiving an autism diagnosis is crucial because it enables individuals with autism to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and to access the necessary support and treatment to address their specific needs.
Because of outdated and inaccurate notions about what autism looks like and who can be autistic, many autistic women and girls face difficulty getting a diagnosis, often receiving one later in life or being misdiagnosed with other conditions altogether.
It's often said that the traits of autism that many of us learned about in the past are more commonly seen in boys and men than in women and girls.
The specialist, who focuses on autism assessment and diagnosis, explains that many autistic women often go undetected.
How does autism typically present in females?
Dr. Elembaby stated to HuffPost UK: "For years, autism has been primarily studied and diagnosed from a male perspective."
She stated that autistic women often hide their difficulties so well that they are frequently misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or personality disorders.
According to the psychologist, some of the main signs of undiagnosed autism in adult women are:
1) Social "masking" and exhaustion
"Many autistic women mimic social behaviors to blend in, imitating facial expressions, scripting conversations, or forcing eye contact," Dr. Elembaby stated.
This can take a significant toll, frequently resulting in deep exhaustion and burnout.
2) Overanalysing social situations
Experts note that women with autism may experience symptoms such as "replaying conversations on loop, stressing over what they said 'wrong,' or feeling socially drained after even small interactions."
3) Sensitivities to sensory information that impact daily routines
"Women with autism may find loud noises, bright lights, certain clothing textures, or strong smells to be overwhelming," the expert noted.
Some women are referred to as 'picky eaters' due to their food aversions based on sensory preferences.
4) Intense, lesser-known special interests
According to Dr. Elembaby, "While autistic men may become fixated on numbers, trains, or mechanics, autistic women often develop a deep interest in literature, psychology, nature, or fictional characters."
She suggests that these fixations might not be as indicative of an autistic diagnosis for some people, particularly autistic men and boys.
5) Frequent misdiagnoses
"It's common for autistic women to be initially diagnosed with anxiety, depression, OCD, or borderline personality disorder before autism is even considered as a possibility," the assessor explained.
6) Struggling with setting and maintaining healthy boundaries and experiencing burnout.
"Autistic women may be perceived as 'too sensitive,' have difficulty asserting themselves by saying no, or put pressure on themselves to meet social expectations - until they reach a breaking point," the psychologist stated.
If you think you might be autistic,
"For many women, it's not until they see their child being diagnosed with autism that they realize they may be autistic themselves," Dr. Elembaby said.
The National Health Service advises that you should consider getting an autism assessment if you suspect you have autism. Both adults and children can apply, but the health service notes that waiting lists may be lengthy.
There is a webpage designed to assist individuals who suspect they may have autism, providing guidance on whether to pursue a diagnosis.
They summarize the advantages of diagnosis, provide some pre-diagnosis questionnaires, and explain which forms of support require or do not require an official diagnosis and under what circumstances.
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