Is Asperger's really more common in men? Or...

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I think some of the new studies are showing that more women have ASDs than previously thought because researchers have a belief system about how ASDs are supposed to look and that women's symptoms, which may be identical to men's, are dismissed as "hystrionic," and the prejudice is to diagnose a mental illness as opposed to something like autism or AS. How many older women were diagnosed with an identity disorder instead of autism because autism or AS was a male syndrome, even though the woman or young girl is displaying the exact same symptoms? It's looking at people through a gender filter, and that filter is wreaking havoc with people's lives.

The newer studies are showing there are more females than previously thought with ASDs--Tony Attwood believes it's closer to 2 to 1 male to female ratio, and I believe once the subsets are further defined, it's going to be closer to even. There are already two types of autism that are sex based, and Rett's is one (females).

The four women I have met were all formally diagnosed, as was myself, but the interesting thing was, three of us are middle aged or older when we were diagnosed. I have met one guy.

As it turned out, we older women had been (imperfectly) diagnosed with other things. Now that I have a counselor who treats people with spectrum disorders, she said she couldn't see how I could've been diagnosed as anything else, especially with school reports in hand.

It's that filter so many shrinks have when evaluating people.

I really appreciate what most people have posted on this thread.

Metta.

I fully agree gender bias is far too often at the basis of clinical decision making.

If there's supposedly an under-diagnosis in girls, how come I was diagnosed all that time ago?

What did I do to get people's backs up?

Why me?
Why me?


I'm sorry, but I received only negativity and bad reactions when I was diagnosed.

Sure there are girls out there who do need help, but I wouldn't wish the bullying I went through (by staff and students) for me being labeled on my worst enemy.

I'm sorry, but since my statement has been retracted, I've had praise from people and they thought I was capable.

If anyone discovers my past record of my AS assessment they treat me like a I can't talk or understand things beyond kindergarten level. It's awful .

This is why whenever I hear the words "Asperger's Syndrome" I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach, because I remember the social confusion, not being able to learn, being ostracised, being called "stupid" and bullied for receiving help.

This is why many people have recommended too keep quiet about my past so as not to upset anyone. They don't want me to "taint" my achievements by "labeling" myself because they think that I'm "better than that". They want me to achieve without being held back by people who are ignorant or afraid. They believe that I'm normal and it was all a horrible mistake.

As for whether I'm AS or not, the jury's been out for 20 years and I haven't received any helpful or positive information from anyone in real life.

Gosh. If I told anyone who's seen me being successful, they wouldn't believe me or they'd become frightened.

I doubt everyone and everything, and I get more hits than believeing.

It is a guy Syndrome, it shows through a lack of interest in team sports, and an unnatural interest in reading books. The main Dx is being bullied by the jocks. An interest in Science, Accounting, also fit in.

Hence, something must be wrong with them, and Asperger's fits.

No one expects girls to want to smash bodies and take group showers afterward, only a few Cheerleaders join in.

So it is a catchall for nerds, and vastly over counted.

In both sexes, the symptoms are caused by going to school with normal football players.

Factoring this in the True Asperger's, is closer to 50/50, just like WP.

I think AS probably presents itself differently in women due to natural sex differences. A female might turn to food as her special interest/obsession and that is less likely to be put down to Aspergers. Or she might focus on animals or another subject that isn't so likely seen as AS material. I also think that females try to fit in with the crowd more - they may hide their social difficulties by just interacting with a few close friends, or letting themselves be swallowed by a crowd at school. If they're a loner they might be seen as a bookworm or very withdrawn - this was the case with me. If a boy spent all his time alone this might raise different questions as it's less accepted for a boy to be withdrawn.