Autism Diagnosis Timing Varies by Sex
Registry data from Sweden show how autism diagnosis timing differs by sex from childhood through adulthood.
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By
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Kathryn Wighton
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February 6, 2026
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Autism diagnoses are more common in boys during childhood, while girls are often diagnosed later in adolescence or early adulthood.
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A study of over 2.7 million individuals in Sweden found that the male-to-female ratio for ASD diagnoses has decreased over time.
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By 2022, the age at diagnosis showed smaller sex differences, with ratios approaching unity by age 20 years.
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The median age at diagnosis across the cohort was 14.3 years, with incidence rates peaking among males aged 10-14 and females aged 15-19.
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Limitations of the study include reliance on register-based diagnoses and potential biases in diagnostic practices affecting sex differences.
