Abstract
Sex differences were examined in 3-year-olds with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ascertained from a high-risk cohort, and
high- and low-risk comparison groups. Participants included 319 high-risk siblings and 129 low-risk controls. Eighty-five
siblings were diagnosed with ASD, including 57 of 176 boys (32.4 %) and 28 of 143 girls (19.6 %), implying a relative odds
of ASD of 1.65 in boys versus girls. There were modest sex differences on cognitive and adaptive skills and ASD symptom severity
at age 3, but differences between boys and girls with ASD mirrored those in the non-ASD groups. The lower than expected male-to-female
ratio, and the relatively high cognitive level among diagnosed children, suggest that we have identified an unanticipated
number of higher-functioning girls with ASD.
high- and low-risk comparison groups. Participants included 319 high-risk siblings and 129 low-risk controls. Eighty-five
siblings were diagnosed with ASD, including 57 of 176 boys (32.4 %) and 28 of 143 girls (19.6 %), implying a relative odds
of ASD of 1.65 in boys versus girls. There were modest sex differences on cognitive and adaptive skills and ASD symptom severity
at age 3, but differences between boys and girls with ASD mirrored those in the non-ASD groups. The lower than expected male-to-female
ratio, and the relatively high cognitive level among diagnosed children, suggest that we have identified an unanticipated
number of higher-functioning girls with ASD.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1515-y
- Authors
- Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Susan E. Bryson, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Peter Szatmari, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Jessica Brian, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Isabel M. Smith, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Wendy Roberts, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tracy Vaillancourt, Faculty of Education and School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Caroline Roncadin, Department of Psychology, Peel Infant Development, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Online ISSN 1573-3432
- Print ISSN 0162-3257