Autism in Females Maya’s Story

The early diagnosis of Autism can significantly impact the quality of the life of the person. Therefore, it is essential to ensure an accurate and early diagnosis of autism. Unfortunately, autism’s diagnosis is delayed by several years in female patients compared to males. In this video we will be following the journey of Maya and how going undiagnosed can impact the life of young girls. We will also touch on current research that is making a positive impact on this field.

This video was created by McMaster University students Alexandra Marques, Armin Sariaslani, and Emilyanne Stocks in collaboration with the McMaster Demystifying Medicine Program.

Special thanks to Dr. Darren Bridgewater, Dr. Kjetil Ask, Safaa Naiel, Aniqa Chaudhry, Mubariz Maqsood, Kunwar Karim, and the rest of Demystifying Medicine team in helping develop this video!

This video is provided for general and educational information only. Please consult your health care provider for Information about your health.

Copyright McMaster University 2020.

#DemystifyingMedicine, #MentalHealth

References:

Bargiela, S., Steward, R., & Mandy, W. (2016). The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(10), 3281-3294. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8

CDC. (2016). Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

[mayakjaer]

My name is Maya, I have autism, add, anxiety and I’ve dealt with a lot of depression. Many people have made fun of me, I believed every word people told me. I’m a really sensitive person, I have always felt like I’m different. I love singing, drawing and I just love nature. I hope one day that I can show people how it felt to be me. I just want to feel that someone understands me.

[eyboi]

I got told a few years ago that when I was in middle school my teacher recommended my parents check me for Autism. They never did, and said they didn’t want to give me a victim mentality if I had the diagnosis. Now I’m sitting here 9 years later like “fuck I might need to get this checked out lol”

[rissagotvideos]

Undiagnosed autism, I need to see a psychologist. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, but I specifically explained how fearful I was of socializing. I was very isolated. I’ve had teachers actually make accommodations for me without even realizing it. But I’ve always just beeen a sensitive confused girl.

[danagricken]

Wow, this is like my life story! The undiagnosed autism, getting bullied, anxiety, social awkwardness. I eventually went into homeschooling. I definitely need to get diagnosed as autistic.

[hemmeli_]

This resembles my story. I always felt extremely different and struggled very hard to make friends. At 48 years old I realized that I have been masking for almost my whole life. Im starting to get to know my authentic self now, but it’s very difficult. I’m very happy I’m aware of this now, but it would have changed my life if I had known about this when I was a child. And for my family as well.

[ardapelle]

When the original misdiagnosis was mentioned I had an absolute meltdown and sobbed and had to watch the rest later… my best friend in the whole world didn’t make it. She was 25, diagnosed autistic at 23 but it was too late for her. I love this video, more and more I just want everyone who can to tell these stories, girls are dying… we’re living half lives. Barely. Thank you.

[nakysha]

So many things in here I relate to. Was always told I was "too sensitive" and needed to get over it

[riverhunter]

this video made me cry. i’ve never related to anything more in my entire life. how do i get help. i’m 21.

[additionalsky]

Excelled at school, preferred reading, excelled at music (I learned 5 instruments!), bullied incessantly, dropped out of University twice… and I got my ADHD and Autism diagnosis a month ago 🥰
There needs to be more research and discussion about Autism in cis-women at a young age. I’m now 33 and realised I’ve been trying to go through life on ‘Hard Mode’… and it doesn’t have to be like this!
Thankyou for making these videos ❤️

[MsLozzaM]

Im 42. I was diagnosed with autism last month. My life has been very similar to Maya's. Im finally getting the validation ive craved all these years.

[coolgirlfrozenfeet]

I didn’t know I had autism until I had to drop out of university when I was almost 23. I made it through three semesters, never passing a morning class, and never had more than two classes at the end of the semester. My GPA was 1.2, versus my 3.6 in high school. I was put on academic probation, but no one made any move to help me. Not until it was too late. In all the time I was in college, I never met any of the deans. Only one of my teachers ever tried in any way to help me because of my already-diagnosed ADHD. I went through most things completely alone, unless my boyfriend happened to be on campus. (We met online before I went to college, and he was the biggest reason I chose the one I did. We have been married for 13.5 years now.) Shortly before I moved out of the dorm, I did have an appointment to talk to one of the deans, but it never happened. To think day, I do not know who the deans were or what they looked like. I had to leave school because I could not get funding, due to my horrendous grades. Fourteen and a half years later, I still owe a lot of money and I have been able to pay off only a tiny bit. The fees keep building up more and more, and I have no idea how much I owe. I can’t do a thing about it. I have nothing to show for it. Considering the lack of help from such an expensive school, I honestly don’t think I should have to pay back everything. The school should have tried to help me with ADHD, and they should have noticed my autism much, much earlier. (I was homeschooled before university, so it was not as easily noticed.) I was obviously struggling the entire time I was there. The best grade I ever got was a B. Everything else was pretty much Ds and Fs, with a few Cs.
Now, my other health problems have gotten much worse, and I can no longer work one day a week. I can’t find the help I need to deal with life. I look fine, so I’m obviously just being lazy, right? That’s how people have always reacted toward me.
Even family members have turned against me for something that was not my fault. They also seem to treat me as “less” since my diagnosis. I hate that, and it is extremely hurtful that my siblings no longer seem to care about me. I don’t have friends. I need to get my child evaluated, but I can’t figure out how, and no one is helping me. It’s all up to me, and I can’t handle it on my own.

[elevenpoisons]

I have been diagnosed with autism but I had much trouble learning at school and absorbing things that were not of my great interest. To anyone watching this and only has a simple view of asd, we are all our own people with our own individual strengths and weaknesses. I hope the stereotypes these days are not taken as solid fact as often as they use to be

[SM-zwon]

Asd in females is like we don’t have asd. Cause we don’t fall in the typical symptoms mainly set for males.

[raquelmadre]

I’m crying right now. This story. Is exactly what I have gone though my entire life. I always felt like an alien, yet excelled in things which made people not believe me. Making friends too. The absolute worst. Even though I value friendship. I’ just finished my evaluation and was told I am on the spectrum, also adhd. I been so emotional all week. Im 27, a mom. Have a nurotypical presenting family. Thankfully my husband is the one who encouraged me to go though this. He knew I never had the support prior. My mom truly believed vaccines caused autism, and argued with my husband (who’s about to become a doctor) on this journey I chose. She felt since I’m successful. I’m fine. I won pageants. How can this be possible? Yet I look back. I had to learn to socialize. I masked so well…it’s painful looking back and seeing all the mask I worn to try to fit in (pageants I had no issue. I love dressing up, and feeling like a princess) I’m also a huge nerd. I always wanted to make videos, collect my dolls, make money on eBay. That was my teenage years. I’m thankful to know, and I don’t find it a bad thing as people like my mom do. I find it comforting knowing I was not alone and can find support. I’m not ashamed, I’m happy to know more of myself. Still a bit emotional over it but know there’s hope for me to understand better 💕

[AuroraBorealis]

This video made me cry. My daughter is 14 and I been told she might have ASD. I'm crying because after googling asd I feel upset why I didn't think of this before instead of making my daughter feel mis understood for so long

[ezzie]

i finally got diagnosed with autism at 15 years old, it took from when i was 5 to get a diagnosis. it upsets me that there’s not as much information/studies on girls with autism. i struggled and suffered for years, being told i’m lazy and just acting out. even now with a diagnosis, there’s barely any help for me. i still don’t fully understand my diagnosis, but at least now i can get the help i need. this video really helped put my experiences into words, as i’m bad at that. thank you.

[trancelover]

Even though I am a man on the autistic spectrum I can relate to this video. I was never destructive in school and I had a natural affection for numbers and the creative arts. I always called children out for breaking the rules and unintentionally got myself in to all kinds of bother. In High School, teachers where constantly yelling at me and referring to me as lazy and a daydreamer. Going out your own front door is an adventure when your autistic. The fact I work in education now as an adult is the perfect epitome or irony. Women and girls with autism certainly need more representation and sterotypes need to be eliminated for all people with autism.

[mikoda]

I'm 29, and these traits sound extremely similar to what I've experienced since childhood. I developed a great talent for art at age 11, and by 13, I was drawing perfectly realistic portraits. I'm very nervous about getting possibly diagnosed, because I hate leaving my home, and only leave home with my mother (I know, pathetic since I'm a grown woman). I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2015 and spent 3 days in a ward for suicidal thoughts. I have a list of issues I experience, like dumb phobias, eating disorder (when I was a teenager), sensitivity to sounds, terrified of social interactions, no friends, mimicking other people's gestures, terrified of driving, etc, etc. When I'm making a phone call or having to talk to someone, it feels like I'm throwing myself off a bridge. It's super scary. Socializing is like skydiving.

[beckyf]

Big hugs Maya. I'm 45 and I'm 4 years into the diagnostic process. Hopefully I'm nearing the end now. Its been a long road and at this point I've had to financially fund it myself. So much for the NHS in this country.

[marcellabrittl]

April is the awarness month of people with autism (like myself).
We're all different with autism (in a good way).
Autism is not a disease or a illness, autism is the way your brain works in a different way from other people.
Autistic people are very special & passionate people that can create or achieve anything that they will be talented & successful in the future.
Always be proud of who u are as a autistic person, no matter what other people think or say, u are special, be yourself, don't change yourself just be you.