April is Autism Awareness Month and it is important to note that it is not a health condition that is unique to boys alone. While it seems more prevalent in boys or perhaps is just more easily apparent and as such is diagnosed more frequently in boys; Autism affects girls too.

It is believed that 1 in 4 autistic individuals, under the age of 21, are girls. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), indicates that nearly half the girls in the 1 in 4, are of “normal intelligence.” Unfortunately with so few numbers of girls in the spectrum compared to boys, research on autism in girls is lacking.

Researchers are finding that autistic girls usually blossom late in presenting various aspects of autism. While boys are prone to be more disruptive at an early age, girls seem to hold out for the middle school years and present autistic traits differently.

Why the middle school years? This is probably the most social time in a girl’s life. Peer pressure is up in this age group, the stresses of communicating and holding on to friendships and hormones from the onset of puberty.

While more research needs to be done in regards to girls and their specific needs as the autistic traits become more apparent in a girl’s middle school years, it is also recognized that finding out the why of these differences in autistic traits between boys and girls can help define what can be done for boys in their early years.

To learn more about autism, please visit Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Health and Fitness channel. Some links follow to some excellent resources that have been set up by BellaOnline’s Autism Spectrum Disorders editor.

For more information:

• Online Conferences for the Autism Community
• Autism Awareness Events 2008
• Autism Editor, Bonnie Sayers