The Role of Gender in Mental Health

Autism

Autism is part of a spectrum of pervasive developmental disorders ranging from mild to severe. All autism spectrum disorders appear at an early age and affect a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. The direct cause of autism remains unknown. Boys are four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism or another disorder on the autism spectrum. While the condition is more commonly seen in boys, girls with the disorder tend to have more severe symptoms, including greater cognitive impairment. Talk to your doctor if your child shows signs of poor social or behavioral development such as language problems, poor eye contact or failure to respond to his or her name.

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Review Date: 
April 11, 2014

Citation: 
Last Updated:
July 1, 2014