Why does a gender discrepancy exist when it comes to diagnosing girls?
Autism is thought to affect four times as many boys as girls but research done at the Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Institute of Child Health found that girls with a normal to higher verbal IQ showed different symptoms and fewer of the signs traditionally associated with autism, such as rigid behaviour. Jane discusses why this gender discrepancy exists with Dr Judith Gould a consultant clinical psychologist from the National Autistic Society and Dr Rebecca Chilvers a psychologist who worked in the Child Health clinic at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Jane also hears from Nicky Clark a parent with two daughters with autism. Dr Rebecca Chilvers is author of the Hidden World of Autism published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers 978-1843104513
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