Abstract

Autism has a vastly growing diagnosis rate as more people are understanding the signs of this disorder. This thesis investigates how gender differences affect the presentation of autism in people. Also acknowledging the impact of how these different presentations can lead to misdiagnosis or late diagnosis in females specifically. Using a narrative analysis method, 23 articles were analyzed talking about how autism presents differently in different genders. Results show that females are better able to unconsciously or consciously match their behavior to those around them, allowing for them to not be recognized for their possible autism symptoms. This study describes the differences in how autism presents in males and females while highlighting the need for female inclusive criteria.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2026

Mentor

Dr. Shirley P. O’Brien, OTR/L, FAOTA, Foundation Professor

Mentor Department Affiliation

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Bachelor Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1C4oqPmwI2taVNokmteYy0j5iQYa0WKgb3mhgp_bj5bA/edit?usp=sharing

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