Gender differences in Autism Spectrum Disorders - version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Gender differences in children and adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders
IRAS ID
169201
Contact name
William Mandy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Traditionally research has indicated that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are more common in males than females, with a ratio of approximately 4:1. However, recently research has indicated that the gender gap may be narrower than originally proposed, and that previous findings reflect under detection of females with ASD rather than females being less likely to be autistic.
It has been suggested that females with ASD present with a slightly different and more subtle profile of difficulties. Examples include an increased ability to mask their socio-communicative difficulties with certain strategies, and having qualitatively different repetitive interests.
The current diagnostic criteria for ASD are based on research using predominantly male samples. Therefore this research, which aims to elucidate the female profile of ASD symptoms, is important because if there are gender differences in how autism presents in everyday life, then females are at risk of going undetected if assessments are based on male-biased classification systems. Having a clearer understanding of the female profile of autism could provide girls and women with ASD easier access to clinical input and subsequent support, as well as validation for their difficulties which may be causing them substantial distress.
The study will be recruiting from the Social Communication Disorder Clinic at Great Ormond Street Hospital. This is a national specialist service for individuals with high-functioning ASD. The study will recruit retrospectively, approaching the parents of children who have previously been assessed at the clinic and asking them for informed consent to use their child's assessment video recording. A coding frame will be developed and used on these videos to compare males and females with high-functioning ASD in order to quantitatively investigate whether or not gender differences exist. Participants will not be asked to provide any additional personal information beyond that already provided in their initial assessment.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0234
Date of REC Opinion
21 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion