An autism expert has shared seven often-missed signs of autism in girls, which differ significantly from the classic symptoms typically seen in boys. These signs include social camouflaging, intense interests in people rather than objects, and sensory sensitivities that may be mistaken for anxiety.

Many parents know the common signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from awareness campaigns and pediatric checkups. Yet these widely recognised indicators often reflect how autism presents in boys, leaving many girls undiagnosed or misdiagnosed until adolescence or even adulthood.

Mark Blakey, CEO of, a leading resource for families navigating autism spectrum disorders, has shared the signs parents can look for in girls. He said: "The classic autism checklist used by many doctors was developed based primarily on research with boys.

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"This has created a diagnostic blind spot that leaves many girls without the support they need during critical developmental years."

Social camouflaging

Unlike boys with autism who may show obvious social difficulties, girls often develop sophisticated masking techniques. They might carefully observe and mimic their peers' social behaviours, memorise scripts for conversations, or copy facial expressions and gestures.

Blakey said: "A lot of autistic girls become excellent social chameleons. They work incredibly hard to fit in, which makes their autism less obvious to parents and teachers. This masking takes tremendous mental energy and can lead to exhaustion or meltdowns at home after holding it together all day at school.”

Look for signs that your daughter seems to be "performing" in social situations rather than naturally engaging, or notice if she seems unusually drained after social events.

Intense focus on people rather than objects

While boys with autism often fixate on objects or technical systems, girls may develop intense interests in people, characters, or social dynamics. Blakey added: "A girl might become deeply fascinated with fictional characters, celebrities, or even classmates—collecting extensive information about them and discussing them in great detail.

"This can be mistaken for typical social interest, but the nature of the fascination is more systematic than truly social.”

Sensory sensitivities that present as anxiety

Girls with autism tend to experience significant sensory sensitivities, but these are often misinterpreted as general anxiety or fussiness. Blakey advises: "Watch for patterns in what seems to trigger distress. Does your daughter consistently struggle with certain clothing textures, food consistencies, loud environments, or bright lights? These reactions aren't behavioural problems—they're genuine physical discomfort that can be overwhelming.”

Passive social withdrawal

While boys with autism might actively reject social interaction, girls often withdraw in more subtle ways. Blakey said: "Rather than running away from the group or refusing to participate, a girl might quietly read in the corner during recess or find reasons to stay close to teachers instead of peers.

"This passive withdrawal is easy to miss, especially in quiet girls who don't cause disruptions.”

Emotional intensity and difficulty regulating emotions

Many autistic girls experience emotions with exceptional intensity but struggle to identify and manage these feelings appropriately. Blakey said: "Parents might notice their daughter has extreme reactions to seemingly minor disappointments or changes in routine.

"What looks like being 'overly emotional' or 'dramatic' may actually be difficulty with emotional regulation—a common autism trait that's often overlooked in girls.”

Language and communication differences

While severe language delays are rare in girls with autism, more subtle communication differences can appear. Blakey explained: "Many autistic girls have excellent vocabulary and grammar, but struggle with the pragmatic aspects of language.

"They might talk extensively about their interests without noticing others' boredom, interpret language very literally, or have trouble understanding sarcasm, jokes, or implied meanings."

Perfectionism and rule-following

Girls with autism often display intense perfectionism and rigid adherence to rules. "This trait can be misinterpreted as simply being a 'good girl' or high-achiever," Blakey points out.

"But when perfectionism causes significant distress, or when rule-following is extremely rigid—to the point where minor infractions by others cause major upset—this might indicate autism.”

Research shows that autistic girls receive their diagnoses on average six years later than boys, with many not being identified until adolescence or adulthood. Several factors contribute to this diagnostic gap.

"The diagnostic criteria for autism were developed primarily based on how autism presents in boys," Blakey explains. "Girls' symptoms often appear different—they're more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or eating disorders instead."

Another significant factor is what researchers call the "camouflage effect." Girls' ability to mask their autism-related challenges in social settings means their struggles may only become apparent in situations requiring greater social complexity and emotional regulation, such as middle school or high school.

"Additionally, some clinicians still operate under outdated stereotypes about autism being primarily a male condition," adds Blakey. "This bias can lead to dismissing concerns about girls who don't fit the 'classic' autism profile."