Skip to content
Aging — Attention — Science — Medical-conditions — Mental health — Health-and-wellness — Machine learning — Neuroscience news — Neuroscience

Distinct Characteristics of Early Autism Symptoms Remain Independent of Gender in Preschool-Aged Children

Research on more than 2,500 toddlers reveals no substantial differences in autistic characteristics at initial diagnosis between boys and girls.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Research on more than 2,500 toddlers reveals that at the initial diagnosis phase, no substantial...
Research on more than 2,500 toddlers reveals that at the initial diagnosis phase, no substantial clinical distinctions in autistic characteristics were detected between boys and girls.

Distinct Characteristics of Early Autism Symptoms Remain Independent of Gender in Preschool-Aged Children

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Human Behavior, researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered no clinical differences in autism traits between male and female toddlers at the time of their initial diagnosis. This surprising finding challenges the commonly held belief that males are more likely to be diagnosed with autism than females.

The research, which took place over two decades and assessed over 2,500 toddlers between the ages of 12 and 48 months, provides essential insights into early autism diagnosis and intervention. With 1,500 autistic, 600 typically developing, and 475 developmentally delayed toddlers participating, the study is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.

Assessments included 19 measures of language development, social and motor skills, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive abilities, among others. Researchers also used eye-tracking technology to evaluate social attention. All assessments were conducted by licensed clinical psychologists at the UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence.

The investigation found no significant clinical differences between male and female autistic toddlers on all but one metric. The exception was a measure of daily living skill development based on parent reporting, such as dressing and feeding oneself, where females scored slightly higher than males. There were also no major clinical differences between males and females within subtypes as they were clustered based on robust state-of-the-art methods.

Importantly, the study's findings suggest that sex differences in autism may emerge later in development rather than at the onset of symptoms.

Results showed that female toddlers without autism outperformed males in language and social abilities, consistent with previous studies. This indicates that typically developing females may develop slightly faster in terms of language ability and social skills than typically developing males.

Researchers attributed the lack of clinical differences between male and female autistic toddlers to various factors, such as small sample sizes, sampling bias, limited study measures, or methodological issues in previous studies. Alternatively, they propose that sex differences may not exist at the time of first onset but instead emerge slowly at later ages, driven by psychosocial factors like socialization or differences in biology that may unfold across development.

To further explore this possibility, a high-quality, large-scale study that tracks autistic children from toddlerhood through school age and beyond would be necessary. These findings have implications for understanding the development of autism, enhancing early detection, and improving early intervention.

Understanding sex differences in autism is crucial for equitable care and support for autistic children, regardless of their gender. Accurate and timely diagnoses, appropriate support, and tailored interventions are essential to help every child reach their full potential.

The study was funded, in part, by grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health. Additional authors include researchers from UC San Diego School of Medicine and Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.

  1. This recent neuroscience news from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine contests the traditional notion that autism presents differently in males and females.
  2. The publication in Nature Human Behavior shares findings from a decades-long study involving over 2,500 toddlers, detected no clinical differences in autism traits between male and female toddlers initially diagnosed.
  3. Researchers now call for further investigation into sex differences in autism, as the new study reveals subtle distinctions may appear as individuals age.
  4. In the current study, participants included autistic, typically developing, and developmentally delayed toddlers who underwent 19 measures of various aspects such as language development, cognitive abilities, repetitive behaviors, and social skills.
  5. Machine learning and eye-tracking technology were employed to evaluate social attention and assessments were conducted by licensed clinical psychologists.
  6. Mental health, neurological disorders, health-and-wellness, and science communities may benefit from understanding sex differences in autism, which could lead to more equitable care and support for affected children.
  7. The study, funded by grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health, proposes the need for future investigations tracking autistic children from toddlerhood through various life stages to confirm the hypothesis that sex differences in autism symptoms may become apparent at later ages.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest