In general, girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are identified significantly later than their male counterparts. Some studies suggest that the key characteristics of ASD in young children that early childhood professionals are particularly attuned to (e.g., limited imitation, diminished social sharing; delayed joint attention skills) are often intact in preschool-aged girls who later receive a diagnosis of ASD. In fact, we may need to be considering a broader set of behavioral markers when we are assessing a young girl for possible ASD. In this webinar, we’ll present a summary of the current research. concerning early emerging markers of autism in girls. Relying upon a developmental model of autism, we’ll discuss possible implications of this research for improving early childhood autism assessments in girls. Case examples will be integrated into the webinar to illustrate key points.
Susan Hepburn is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University and a licensed clinical psychologist. She is actively engaged in teaching at the university and consulting in schools on educational identification and intervention for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is collaborating with community partners to establish a clinic on the CSU campus which will provide evaluations, consultation, and direct support to persons with ASD and their families.
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