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. 2023 Apr;53(4):1305-1318.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05385-y. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Sex Differences in Autism: Examining Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors in Children and Adolescents Enrolled in a National ASD Cohort

Emily F Dillon  1   2   3 , Stephen Kanne  4   5 , Rebecca J Landa  1   2 , Robert Annett  6 , Raphael Bernier  7 , Catherine Bradley  8 , Laura Carpenter  8 , So Hyun Kim  9 , Julia Parish-Morris  10   11 , Robert Schultz  10 , Ericka L Wodka  12   13 ; SPARK consortium
Collaborators, Affiliations

Sex Differences in Autism: Examining Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors in Children and Adolescents Enrolled in a National ASD Cohort

Emily F Dillon et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Discernment of possible sex-based variations in presentations of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms is limited by smaller female samples with ASD and confounds with ASD ascertainment. A large national cohort of individuals with autism, SPARK, allowed parent report data to be leveraged to examine whether intrinsic child characteristics and extrinsic factors differentially impact males and females with ASD. Small but consistent sex differences in individuals with ASD emerged related to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, with different markers for males and females. Language concerns in males may make discernment of ASD more straightforward, while early motor concerns in females may hamper diagnosis as such delays are not identified within traditional ASD diagnostic criteria.

Keywords: ASD; Autism spectrum disorder; Diagnosis; Sex/gender differences.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors have no conflict of interest or completing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
First parental concern by child sex. NB Change or loss refers to a change in ability of loss of skill as reported by the parent. Figure of first parental concern by sex
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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