how are girls different from boys

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2004
how are girls different from boys
1
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 9:57pm

I was just wondering something. How are girls with AS different from boys with AS? Do you think behaviors differ because of maturity levels (girls maturing faster than boys) so that outburst and temper tantrums are worse with boys than girls?

Do you think girls learn quicker and overcome "issues" quicker than boys or do you think all of them are the same. In other words, when reading a checklist of AS do you think they took into consideration the boy/girl senerio? I know that behaviors are behaviors, but outcomes could possibly be better in one gender vs another right?

I'm just having one of my deep thought moments so please know that I am just asking to ask. I'm in a weird mood tonight.

Happy New Year

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-01-2007 - 11:21pm

Actually alot of folks have thought about the same thing and there are a number of articles out there about this very issue. The diagnostic criteria does seem to more speak to the male expression of AS than the female. In fact there is some theories out there that the reason that the boys so outnumber girls with AS is because girls with AS are often not diagnosed and missed diagnostically.

The expectations for girls are also very different than they are for boys. For instance, a girl who becomes a wallflower and withdraws is likely not noticed as much as a boy who does the same. Also, girl AS obsessions tend to be around animals, horses, etc. and there are a large number of girls without AS who have strong interests in this area. It is the same for girls with ADHD. They tend not to have the hyperactivity component to the level the boys do, but rather they are more distractable and daydreamers.

Withdrawal and daydreaming does not draw the attention of adults to the same degree that aggression and severe hyperactivity do sad to say. It is easy to over look and forget them.

Girls also by thier make up are more social type creatures and the girls with AS can often fake it pretty darn well. ANd when they can't there are plenty of "mothering" little girls around that fake it for them.

Having a girl and a boy with AS I see a huge difference between the 2. I also know how rare it is to have a girl with AS. Cait is the only girl in her AS program. In fact in the 7 years the program has been running they have only had 2 other girls. Both were in 8th grade and there for one year when the program started and then nothing for 5-6 years until Cait came. There are 16 kids in the program each year. This spring one other girl may join for a portion of the time. We have personally met 2 other girls with similar diagnosis. I is truly AS and the other has mood disorder with some ASD type tendancies. But I know tons of boys with it.

Tony Attwoods website has an article or 2 on this if you want to check it out.

Renee

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