Girls May Be Protected From Autism, Scientists Find

A team of Boston and European scientists have found evidence for a “female protective effect” in autism that could explain why boys are at far greater risk for the disorder than girls.
For years, it’s been known that boys are disproportionately affected by autism spectrum disorders, outnumbering girls 4 to 1. What has never been clear is the reason for the gender imbalance: Were males more biologically susceptible, or were females somehow insulated from the disorder and its suite of communication and behavioral problems? In a paper published last Monday, scientists studied thousands of pairs of twins and found evidence that supports the idea that females are protected.

For Girls with Autism, Middle School Years Can Be Particularly Challenging

Piece by Pamela Gross Downing, a special education teacher. Part 2 of her series will appear next week.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- When Maggie was little, she was a very precocious child. The family attributed the girl’s trouble sitting still to her constant curiosity. As a student, Maggie always did average to above average work in school. However, as the girl grew older, her behavior and disposition began to change. Maggie’s parents started noticing that their daughter was no longer fitting in with other children her age. That alone didn’t really concern them. Being different wasn’t the problem. Maggie had always been very creative and she displayed a special gift for art. The parents knew that their daughter’s inability to relate to her peers wasn’t the only issue of concern. The major difficulty was Maggie’s sudden unexpected outbursts at home and at school. Plus, the incidences were becoming more frequent.