Why are girls and women with autism so often diagnosed late?
In this episode of The Spicy Brain Podcast, host Lara Sullivan sits down with renowned neuroscientist and author of ‘The Lost Girls of Autism’, Professor Gina Rippon, to explore why so many autistic girls and women have been overlooked, misdiagnosed, or diagnosed far later in life.
Together, they unpack how decades of autism research focused primarily on boys, shaping the way autism has been recognised, understood, and diagnosed - and leaving countless girls and women without the answers or support they needed.
Part 1 explores:
🌶️ Why autism presents differently in girls and women
🌶️ The male bias in autism research and diagnosis
🌶️ The mental health impact of late diagnosis
🌶️ Why so many autistic women are misdiagnosed
🌶️ Workplace support and accommodations that make a difference
🌶️ The journey of self-understanding that follows a late diagnosis
🌶️ Masking and camouflaging – what they are and why they matter
Tune in for a conversation that challenges outdated ideas about autism and asks what needs to change so that autistic girls and women are no longer overlooked.
What is Spicy Brain?
Spicy Brain is the podcast host Lara Sullivan wished existed when she was diagnosed with autism as an adult.
Each week, Lara welcomes guests from across the neurodivergent community for thoughtful conversations that challenge stereotypes, celebrate differences, and highlight the humour and joy that only come from shared life experiences.
Spicy Brain is for those diagnosed later in life, those still seeking clarity, or allies of neurodivergent children who want to better understand the world around them.