TED Talks Daily avatar

Dexa/TED Talks Daily

Learn more
Published Apr 7, 2023

Why Autism Is Often Missed in Women and Girls | Kate Kahle | TED

Kate Kahle delves into the often-missed diagnosis of autism in women and girls, highlighting the masking challenges and personal stories that obscure recognition, and advocating for enhanced awareness, research, and understanding to address gender discrepancies in autism support.
Episode Highlights
TED Talks Daily logo

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

  • Masking

    Masking behaviors in autistic individuals, particularly women and girls, often lead to late or missed diagnoses. explains that masking involves camouflaging autistic traits to fit societal norms, which can be a herculean task. This effort to blend in is driven by a desire for social acceptance and success, but it can also lead to significant mental health challenges 1.

    Masking is a behavior by which autistic people try to camouflage and seem like they're not autistic.

    ---

    Kahle notes that women are often more skilled at masking, contributing to their underdiagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis for accessing specialized care and treatment 2.

       

    Mental Health

    The mental health impact of masking is profound, especially for women and girls with autism. highlights that the constant effort to mask can lead to depression and anxiety, with 34% of women with autism experiencing depression and 36% experiencing anxiety 2. This mental strain is compounded by societal expectations for women to exhibit higher emotional intelligence and care for others' emotions, which increases the pressure to mask.

    Depression can stem from working so hard and still not being accepted.

    ---

    Kahle calls for more research into autism in women and minorities, advocating for a shift towards acceptance and understanding of autistic individuals 2.

Related Episodes