Masking Autism in Girls

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects different people in dramatically different ways. The signs and symptoms of it, and the severity to which these are present, can look entirely different in one individual than they do in another.

Autism is considered to affect boys much more than it does girls — about 4.2 times more so, in fact. That being said, it’s not a disorder that girls aren’t affected by at all.

Instead, research has shown that autism seems to affect girls differently than it does boys. In addition, girls are much more prone to masking their signs of autism to fit in more, which could be part of the reason for the gender discrepancy.

Below, we’ll discuss in more depth what masking autism is and why girls tend to do it more than boys.

Learn more about how autism affects girls

Table Of Contents

What is Autism Masking?

Autism masking, sometimes referred to as camouflaging, is essentially when a person tries to control or suppress the behaviors that they have that are often associated with people who have autism.

People mask their autism because they want to be more like their peers and less like themselves. In other words, they want to fit in more than they believe they do.

There are a number of different ways that masking can be done. It might involve suppressing interests that they have that are very intense. It could be hiding self-stimulatory behaviors such as repeatedly tapping their fingers.

It can even be developing some type of social mechanism so that they can seem more at ease and “normal” in social settings.

Is Masking Something That Just Girls Do?

Masking is something that both boys and girls with autism can do. However, it is more prevalent in girls.

Girls have a more innate ability to mask their autism so that they appear to be more like other neurotypical individuals. Some can study how other girls their age behave and then in turn adopt these behaviors as their own so they don’t stick out as much.

For instance, they may mimic the facial expressions, hand gestures and even attitudes that they’ve seen other girls exhibit in certain social situations. They may even rehearse some of these behaviors alone before they know they’re going to encounter certain social situations.

In addition, they might force themselves to become interested in topics that are socially acceptable for girls their age. For instance, they could show a keen an intense interest in makeup or celebrities, two things that neurotypical girls often display interests in as well.

In doing so, they are adapting their own interests to those of other typical children their age so their special interests don’t become odd or “weird” in the eyes of others.

What are the Downsides of Masking Autism?

There are many downsides to masking autism.

For one, it could result in an ASD diagnosis being missed altogether — or for girls to be misdiagnosed with some other disorder. This can lead to them not getting the proper care and treatment, or the wrong care and treatment.

Studies have shown that when early-intervention treatments such as applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, can be implemented early on, children can be more successful at building the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle.

In addition, masking can lead to intense feelings of stress and anxiety. Many girls who have autism have said that they feel overwhelmed at trying to hide who they really are.

When they mask, they are essentially living two lives in one, and they are prohibiting themselves from gaining a true understanding of the disorder and how it affects them.

So, while masking might seem like it’s beneficial in the short-term, it can have long-term devastating effects on the children who participate in it.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Treat Children on the Autism Spectrum

Masking autism in girls and women is a major concern. While some girls on the autism spectrum may mask their symptoms to try to fit in more with their peers, they could be doing long-term damage by doing so.

Many girls who mask their autism well go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed altogether, which can lead to them missing out on valuable years of potential treatments.

At Blue Gems ABA, we have experienced clinical psychologists who are trained to evaluate children for autism and diagnose them with ASD when appropriate. We also have a team of dedicated BCBAs who administer ABA therapy on a one-to-one basis with patients, helping them to build the skills they need to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.

To learn more, please contact us today.