ABSTRACT
The reason for the revision in the gender ratio is that girls and women who have autism have often successfully camouflaged or compensated for their autistic characteristics. Clinical experience indicates that this would be a conservative prevalence as camouflaging will delay a diagnosis until the adult years. Psychologists use the term ‘impaired Theory of Mind' to describe these deficits in nonverbal communication. The child or adult may not be able to accurately read facial expressions and tone of voice that indicate subtle emotional states. In adolescence, non-autistic friendships tend to be based on more complex interpersonal rather than practical needs. The adolescent looks for someone to confide in, who can provide emotional support rather than someone with whom to play ball or climb trees. Camouflaging can facilitate the person's ability to achieve and maintain friendships and relationships. Heritability will also be a factor in the recurrence rate of autism within a family, currently estimated as 35 per cent.
