One of the most characteristic features of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is its prominent higher prevalence among the male gender in comparison with the female gender. Although rates of ASD are consistent across cultures, these rates vary significantly by gender. It is the male gender that seems to be more affected by ASD with an average male-to-female ratio of 4.2:1, affecting 1 in 70 males and only 1 in 315 females (Fombonne, 2009). Although a well-known fact, the causes for such a great difference among sex ratios still remains unexplained, there are several hypotheses and studies trying to explain the reason for this inequality. In this paper I will outline some of the different attempts to explain the differences between the sex ratios. Among these attempts we can find diverse hypotheses that vary from the role of the sex hormones and genetic vulnerability to the biases of medical professionals during the diagnostic process (Goldman, 2013).
Researching on perinatal and neonatal risk factors for autism, Gardener suggested that boys are more vulnerable to a variety of prenatal insults (e.g., infection, malnutrition, stress) and for some reason they might be more prone to genetic mutations leading to autism (Goldman, 2013).
Other researchers propose that girls are more resilient to these prenatal factors. Among the theories that favor this protective feature, we find those ones that defend a higher exposure to female sex hormones and to oxytocin at critical periods of fetal development (Goldman, 2013). However, little research has proven the protective effect of female sex hormones (Robinson, Lichtenstein, Anckarsäterd, Happée, & Ronalde, 2013).
Another hypothesis is that male preponderance could be due to females needing a l...
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...hat the difference in diagnoses among genders may be in part due to the bias of the diagnostic tools. ASDs are diagnosed using a clinical tool called Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) or by using a parent report format with the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) (Goldman, 2013). The child’s expected behaviors in accordance to societal norms for his/her gender, vary greatly depending on whether the child is a male for female, thus generating a gender bias in the diagnostic process. The only widely accepted screening tool to consider gender differences is the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) (Goldman, 2013).
Having reviewed several articles and internet sources, I have learned that there is not conclusive proof of what produces the differences between male and female ratios. The causes of Autism seem to be a still broad field for investigation.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has two main core criteria, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5). The first of the two criteria is ‘Persistent Deficits in Social Communication and Interaction across Multiple Contexts’ under which there are three categories. The first being deficits in social emotional reciprocity which may include atypical social approach and failure of the back and forth exchange of normal conversation. In addition, there may be a failure to respond or initiate social interaction as well as reduced emotions, interest or effect sharing. In the scenario ‘Ben loves Trains’ it is indicated that Ben is content to play alone for hours, he doesn’t interact with his sister in
Studying the functions of the various structures of the brain is best carried out through analysis of brain defects. For example, individuals with autism exhibit particular behaviors that are not considered normal. Assuming that behavior originates from the brain, then it becomes clear that in order to discover the causes of the abnormal behavior a comparison must be made between and healthy brain and the brain of an autistic person. By finding structural differences such as size and composition, the role that the structures play in the behavior of the autistic can be inferred while also investigating the normal functions of brain structures.
According to Autism Speaks Inc. (2015) research has determined there are more than 100 autism risk genes. Both Autism Speaks Inc. (2015) and Autism Society agree that there is a high genetic factor in children with autism, as well as an environmental risk factor. Autism Speaks Inc. (2015) suggests that many things can be responsible for autism in children. Some of these things include parental age, maternal illnesses, extreme prematurity, low birth weight and oxygen deprived babies. According to CDC (2015) people who are older who are having kids are putting their child at a higher risk of being diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be detected early in a child’s life. ASD is a developmental disorder classified by problems with social interaction,
In the brain, “females have a larger hippocampus and a deeper limbic system than males, which allows them to feel the full range and depth of the emotional spectrum,” which makes women more emotional than men (Lorenzo Jensen III). Most women do seem much more emotional and attached than most men. Women are also better at handling stress than men are. When oxytocin is released, “during stressful events. But female estrogen combines with oxytocin to produce a calming effect” (Lorenzo Jensen III). Men and women are in fact different on an anatomical level, leaving no room for bias, science not only shows, but, prove, that women are biologically different than men in some
...sorders on the spectrum such as AS. Several of the sources used in the composition of this paper refer to the belief that Autism is a form of “extreme male brain”, an exaggeration of male traits caused by high levels of testosterone while in utero. In spite of the disparity between the two genders, there are girls struggling with this disorder, and they often experience more severe symptoms than their male counterpart (Rudacille).
autism, and males with the disorder outnumber females with it by nearly 5 to 1. It
Autism is significantly caused in people by de novo mutation, deletions, duplications, genomic rearrangements, or point mutations in the germ line of one parent that causes loss of function or gain of function to a large number of genes. This can occur in any family with any genetic background and can appear in any offspring, regardless of gender. Offspring’s with mild disorders (asymptomatic carriers) i.e., females may marry and have children who inherit mutations in a dominant way. It is now obvious that the third-born male child is at high risk, i.e., his probability of being affected in comparison to the first two children being affected is nearly 50% with dominant transmission and high penetration. Females are at lower risk (20%) with lower incidence in females and reduced penetration in that gender. Explanation is yet to be given about disruptions on a single chromosome with incomplete penetrance that creates carrier states. [30] Females are resistant and therefore make logical carriers, but discordance between monozygotic twins suggest Autism Spectrum Disorder genotype and exi...
“Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how someone communicates with, and relates to other people. Autism also affects how a person makes sense of the world around them ”(autism.org). People wonder the causes of this disability, but what they do not know is there has not been an official cause yet determined! Although there hasn’t been an official cause of autism, there are a lot of theories people believe cause autism. One of the main theories is what pills or vitamins women take during their pregnancy. During pregnancy women have to be very careful on what antibiotics or vitamins they take. Sometimes the child can be affected by the pill which leads to problems during birth. “Another major theory is exposure to chemical pollutants, metals, pesticides, etc.” (webmd.). These substances contain a lot of poisons, chemicals, or bacteria that are very dangerous for a fetus to be exposed too. This is why people say pregnant women should just stay away from places where these substances are. But the main theory that many people think causes autism is vaccines. Although vaccines are supposed to prevent disease, people think there is a chemical in them which causes autism, but this theory is false! The cause of autism has not yet been fully determined, but it is not caused by vaccines; it is usually caused by genetics, metabolic or neurological factors, or lastly problems that occurred during birth.
As the prevalence of Autism continues to grow rapidly, it is proven fact that Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. “On March 27, 2014, this surveillance study identified one in sixty-eight children (one in forty-two boys and one in one-hundred eighty-nine girls) as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).” (DSM-IV, 2000). Eight-hundred thousand people younger than eighteen years are on record as having Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States. Most children display abnormalities within the first year of life; although most are diagnosed with Autism between the ages of two and three. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have Autism. However, females with the disorder are more feasible to exhibit serious mental retardation. There are “approximately seventy-five percent of children with Autism are mentally handicapped; meaning their IQ ranges from thirty-five to fifty. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV, 2000) research suggests that only a small percentage of individuals with Autistic Disorder go on as adults to live and work independently.” ( DSM-IV, 2000)
There is no known single cause of autism. Researchers are investigating a number of possible theories including genetics, heredity, medical problems, problems during pregnancy or delivery, as well as environmental influences. It is widely accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in the brain structure or function. There is evidence from neuropathological studies that autism has its origins in abnormal brain development early in prenatal life which continues postnatally, showing acceleration in brain growth measured by head circumference (Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S., Rogers, T., Roberts, W., Brian, J., & Szatmari, P., 2005). The disorder also seems to have a genetic basis, although researchers have yet to find the specific genes that link to the onset of autism. There could be a cluster of genes that have somehow interfered with normal brain development and function. Studies show that twins of children with autism were more likely to be autistic themselves than the regular population, demonstrating there is a heredity lin...
Statistics show that boys are affected 5 times more than girls. According to data, 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism. To be more specific, 1 in 42 boys is affected and 1 in 189 girls is affected. There is a higher chance of boys getting autism than girls.
Autism usually occurs within the first three years of life, and drastically affects the development of a child. It is also the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States (Autism Project, 2014). One out of eighty- eight children is diagnosed with Autism, and boys are five times more likely to be diagnosed (ASDS 2013). Many areas of development are affected by autism. This is a disease that disturbs the brains normal development of communication, social interaction, and sensory processing (Inc 2013).
Males are exposed to higher levels of testosterone in utero, which effect the fetal development of ones hands (Malas, Dogan, Hilal Evcil & Desdicioglu, 2006). Males second and fourth fingers have been found to be closer together in size, as a result their 2D:4D ratio is smaller as there is less of a difference between the length of these 2 fingers comparatively to women. This proof of higher levels of testosterone in males (Lemon, Gargaro, Enticott, & Rinehart, 2010) can then be linked to ones susceptibility for autism due to the cerebral Lateralisation (Kalmady et al., 2013) as well as damage to the amygdala (Schneider et al., 2011) and how testosterone effects the development of the left hemisphere, which is associated with working memory. It is this reduced metabolism in the prefrontal cortex, primarily the left hemisphere is associated with autism, which indicates testosterone levels in utero may result in higher chances of autism. (Luna et al.,
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that effects the brains development. It is characterized by affecting communication, cognition and social interaction. The spectrum of the disorders ranges from a mild condition called Asperger’s syndrome to a more severe form, which severely impairer’s development. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison states that the disorder affects one and eighty-eight children, however ASD effects boys more frequently than girls (Office of Communications and Public Liaison, 2013). ASD emerges in all age, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The significant varied character and severity of the disorder is why ASD is considered a spectrum that poses a broad range of symptoms.