According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most trained professionals can diagnose autism spectrum disorder in two-year-olds and other preschool-age children using measures such as the (CARS™2) Childhood Autism Rating Scale™ and others. Many children do not receive an ASD diagnosis until their early school years, while others are overlooked entirely during the screening process due to symptom presentation.
Girls with milder ASD are difficult to detect during routine screenings and can require more extensive measures to capture the presentation of autism. Autism in females is considered genetically and behaviorally different from autism in boys. Learn more about screening measures for girls with suspected ASD and how to determine the severity of the disorder.
How Are Girls With ASD Different?
The portrayal of ASD stereotypes is often a young boy with repetitive behaviors, obsessive interests, and tantrums. Often misdiagnosed, girls with ASD don’t always exhibit these behaviors and symptoms at home, at school, or in a pediatrician’s office while being screened with assessments such as the (CARS™2) Childhood Autism Rating Scale™ for developmental disorders. The following are traits that may be more evident in girls with ASD:
- They may have more age-appropriate “special interests” such as pop stars, animals, or TV shows.
- Their repetitive behavior may blend into their play. Girls with ASD often engage in pretend play, but they may play alone or repeatedly act out the same pretend scenario.
- They are good at mimicking their peers and appearing to understand social behaviors when they are struggling.
Which Screenings Help Assess Girls With ASD?
Screenings that look beyond general symptoms of autism are incredibly valuable when evaluating and helping girls with possible ASD. Consider the following two measures when working with girls who have suspected ASD or are undergoing the evaluation process.
(CARS™2) Childhood Autism Rating Scale™, Second Edition
The (CARS™2) Childhood Autism Rating Scale™, Second Edition is an observation-based screening tool that that aids in detecting ASD in a child. You’ll complete two subscales and a parent questionnaire. It’s appropriate for kids two years old and above, and it can be administered in under 10 minutes, making it a great tool to use in school or at a routine appointment.
(SRS™-2) Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition
The (SRS™-2) Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition is a tool that will show the severity of a child or adult’s social impairment. Parents and teachers for children 2.5-18 years old may administer the test, while adults 19 and above can use this measure to report their own social behavior.
For this tool, you will complete multiple subscales and receive a total score for the person you are rating. It will take around 20 minutes to complete.
Contact WPS for More Information
Do you need screening tools like the (CARS™2) Childhood Autism Rating Scale™ that are sensitive, specific, and affordable? Get in touch with WPS to learn more about how to identify ASD and pinpoint several symptoms associated with the condition to help children succeed during their school years.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/screening.html
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/for-females-with-autism-differences-matter/
https://news.virginia.edu/content/autism-develops-differently-girls-boys-new-research-suggests
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