World Autism Day | what is social camouflage and why does it make it harder to diagnose autism in girls

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by an alteration in brain development that causes differences in social communication, as well as repetitive and stereotyped behaviors.

For those living with the condition, sensory changessuch as extreme discomfort with certain noises or textures, and a specific repertoire of interests, also called hyperfocusare usually common.

“People with autism have a different way of perceiving the world. This causes them to direct their attention to other elements of the environment that are not necessarily social stimuli. In a crowded environment, for example, it is possible that the noise of an instrument or the The engine of a car on the street catches their attention more than people’s voices,” explains psychiatrist Mirian Revers Biasão, a professor at the International School for Development (EID) in Brazil.

It is for this reason that people with autism act and learn differently from what is socially expected.

“I, for example, learned to behave in a certain environment because I observed and someone, like my mom, taught me. What happens with people with autism is that they can learn to interpret the actions of other people and understand what is expected them, but it doesn’t happen so naturally,” he says.

It is this process of trying to imitate behaviors considered socially accepted in groups such as friends at school, at work, and even in family relationships that is known as “social camouflage” or “masking”.

“Since it is not so natural for neuroatypical people, these attitudes end up spending more brain energy and the person can become exhausted, both physically and emotionally,” explains the expert.

The harm of social camouflage in people with autism

Various studies show that the social camouflage effort made by people with autism is related to higher rates of depression, anxiety and exhaustion.

One of them, published in 2017 in the scientific journal autismhypothesizes that men suffer more from these effects, since women, in general, have less difficulty in camouflaging.

“Sensory overload crises can also contribute to these conditions, which is why diagnosis is so important. Once we know someone has autism, we can start working on boundaries with that patient. Instead of spending four hours at a party, for example, for that person it may be more comfortable to stay just two hours,” says Biasão.

Social camouflage is more common in girls and women

One of the theories accepted by science is the difference between the brain of men and women.

Some studies, such as an analysis published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviewshow that the female brain is subtly more developed in areas that correspond to social behaviors.

This means that the most stereotyped actions, such as those represented in series with protagonists with autism, such as “The Good Doctor” and “Atypical”, are not as frequent in women with the spectrum, especially if they have a mild degree.

“This makes it difficult even for girls to be diagnosed”emphasizes Joana Portolese, coordinator of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Program of the IPq (Institute of Psychiatry) of the Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo.

According to a study conducted in Sweden, the estimate is 10 boys diagnosed for every girl.

Another issue, Portolese explains, is that the fear of making “social mistakes” is greater and the hyperfocus of girls tends to focus on interests that are not so different from those of their peers of the same age.

In addition, society itself already determines many rules for girls, and this requirement makes them begin to camouflage earlier.

If the diagnosis does not come in childhood, it is possible that women “disguise” the signs of autism better, delaying the diagnosis for years.

“I once heard Temple Grandin, a psychologist with autism, say that the idea of ​​having autism is that you gradually become less and less of a person with the condition, because you keep learning how to behave. She says it’s like acting in a play. theater”.

Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC World. Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don’t miss out on our best content.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFy3rv552hI

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by an alteration in brain development that causes differences in social communication, as well as repetitive and stereotyped behaviors.

For those living with the condition, sensory changessuch as extreme discomfort with certain noises or textures, and a specific repertoire of interests, also called hyperfocusare usually common.

“People with autism have a different way of perceiving the world. This causes them to direct their attention to other elements of the environment that are not necessarily social stimuli. In a crowded environment, for example, it is possible that the noise of an instrument or the The engine of a car on the street catches their attention more than people’s voices,” explains psychiatrist Mirian Revers Biasão, a professor at the International School for Development (EID) in Brazil.

It is for this reason that people with autism act and learn differently from what is socially expected.

“I, for example, learned to behave in a certain environment because I observed and someone, like my mom, taught me. What happens with people with autism is that they can learn to interpret the actions of other people and understand what is expected them, but it doesn’t happen so naturally,” he says.

It is this process of trying to imitate behaviors considered socially accepted in groups such as friends at school, at work, and even in family relationships that is known as “social camouflage” or “masking”.

“Since it is not so natural for neuroatypical people, these attitudes end up spending more brain energy and the person can become exhausted, both physically and emotionally,” explains the expert.

The harm of social camouflage in people with autism

Various studies show that the social camouflage effort made by people with autism is related to higher rates of depression, anxiety and exhaustion.

One of them, published in 2017 in the scientific journal autismhypothesizes that men suffer more from these effects, since women, in general, have less difficulty in camouflaging.

“Sensory overload crises can also contribute to these conditions, which is why diagnosis is so important. Once we know someone has autism, we can start working on boundaries with that patient. Instead of spending four hours at a party, for example, for that person it may be more comfortable to stay just two hours,” says Biasão.

Social camouflage is more common in girls and women

One of the theories accepted by science is the difference between the brain of men and women.

Some studies, such as an analysis published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviewshow that the female brain is subtly more developed in areas that correspond to social behaviors.

This means that the most stereotyped actions, such as those represented in series with protagonists with autism, such as “The Good Doctor” and “Atypical”, are not as frequent in women with the spectrum, especially if they have a mild degree.

“This makes it difficult even for girls to be diagnosed”emphasizes Joana Portolese, coordinator of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Program of the IPq (Institute of Psychiatry) of the Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo.

According to a study conducted in Sweden, the estimate is 10 boys diagnosed for every girl.

Another issue, Portolese explains, is that the fear of making “social mistakes” is greater and the hyperfocus of girls tends to focus on interests that are not so different from those of their peers of the same age.

In addition, society itself already determines many rules for girls, and this requirement makes them begin to camouflage earlier.

If the diagnosis does not come in childhood, it is possible that women “disguise” the signs of autism better, delaying the diagnosis for years.

“I once heard Temple Grandin, a psychologist with autism, say that the idea of ​​having autism is that you gradually become less and less of a person with the condition, because you keep learning how to behave. She says it’s like acting in a play. theater”.

Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC World. Download the new version of our app and activate it so you don’t miss out on our best content.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFy3rv552hI

;