Increase in Autism Diagnoses Among Girls and Women

A new study from Saint Louis University reveals that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses are rising rapidly among girls and women. Over nearly a decade, researchers examined health records, showing that women now receive ASD diagnoses much later than men, often 3.4 years later on average. The increase in diagnoses among females became especially noticeable after the COVID-19 pandemic. While the numbers for males remained steady or dropped, diagnoses for females rose sharply in all age groups. This trend highlights a growing recognition of how ASD can present differently in women.