Skip to main content

No Sex Differences Seen for Autistic Traits in Toddlers at Initial Diagnosis

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 3, 2025.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- Autistic traits in toddlers do not differ based on clinical sex when they are first diagnosed with autism, according to a study published online May 26 in Nature Human Behaviour.

Sanaz Nazari, Ph.D., from the Autism Center of Excellence at the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues used data from 2,618 toddlers (mean age, about 27 months) participating in the Get SET Early program to assess sex differences with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the time of first symptom onset.

The researchers found no significant sex differences in toddlers with ASD across 17 of 18 measures, including symptom severity based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, receptive and expressive language based on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, and social attention based on the GeoPref eye-tracking test. Results persisted across severity subgroups. Girls with typical development outperformed boys on several measures.

"Although later environmental influences could arguably impact later-age symptom presentation, particularly in females, the current body of evidence and our present study do not support previous speculations about sex differences in ASD at the time of first diagnosis," the authors write. "Therefore, it is unlikely that girls with ASD differ clinically from boys with ASD across early development."

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted June 2025

Read this next

Odds of Advanced Cancer, Breast Cancer Death Lower in Screen-Detected Disease

THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- For patients aged 40 years or older, screen-detected breast cancer is associated with lower odds of advanced cancer, mastectomy, and breast...

Cardiorespiratory Effects of Smoke Fine Particulate Matter From Wildfires Can Persist for Months

THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- The cardiorespiratory effects of smoke fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a primary wildfire emission that can spike for months after a wildfire begins...

Experiencing Sacred Moments Is Common for Internal Medicine Doctors

THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- For internal medicine physicians, experiencing sacred moments (brief periods of meaningful connection between clinician and patient) is common, but...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.