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. 2023 Feb;53(2):624-632.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04836-2. Epub 2021 Jan 18.

Sex-Based Differences in Autism Symptoms in a Large, Clinically-Referred Sample of Preschool-Aged Children with ASD

Kevin G Stephenson  1   2 , Megan Norris  3   4 , Eric M Butter  3   4
Affiliations

Sex-Based Differences in Autism Symptoms in a Large, Clinically-Referred Sample of Preschool-Aged Children with ASD

Kevin G Stephenson et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Previous research has identified possible sex-based differences in restricted and repetitive behaviors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, this finding is mixed, particularly among preschool-aged children. We investigated the presence of sex-based differences in parent-rated ASD symptomatology, using the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS). Participants consisted of a large (n = 481,100 female), clinically-referred sample of preschoolers (ages 2-5) diagnosed with ASD (NVIQ: M = 67.11, SD = 21.79). Females had less severe symptoms on the Total, Unusual Behaviors, DSM-5, and Stereotypy scales on the ASRS. The effects were small-to-medium, but statistically significant. There was evidence of differential relationships between nonverbal IQ and ASRS scores among males and females. This study provides additional evidence of sex-based differences in ASD symptoms present from an early age.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Autism spectrum rating scale; Preschool; Restricted and repetitive behaviors; Sex-based differences.

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