A meta-analysis published in 2017 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry examined 54 studies of children and adolescents. Taking study quality into account, the authors concluded that the true male-to-female ratio is probably between 3:1 and 3.5:1, rather than the 4:1 that is often quoted.
Why girls go unnoticed
Interestingly, studies that assessed only children who already had a diagnosis found a higher boy-to-girl ratio (about 4.6:1) than studies that actively screened the whole population (about 3.3:1). This suggests that some girls who meet the criteria for autism remain undiagnosed.
What this means for you
- If your daughter finds social situations hard or is very tired after socialising, it is worth talking to a specialist.
- Autism can be diagnosed in adulthood too.
- Early understanding helps find the right support at school and at home.
Sources
- Loomes R., Hull L., Mandy W. P. L. (2017). What is the male-to-female ratio in autism spectrum disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 466–474. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.013