Scale for Autism in Females: A Diagnostic Interview for the Female Phenotype

Abstract

The female phenotype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exists as a profile of a female with autism who presents with a higher quality of communication, gestures, and a greater interest in social interactions. There are currently no assessment tools available specifically targeting this presentation of neurotypicality, which does a disservice to girls and women. In response, the researcher developed a measure to assess identified characteristics and symptomology. It includes the following domains: camouflaging & masking, social relationships, emotions & empathy, restrictive & sensory interests, and early childhood & development. This study sought to validate this measure through feedback obtained from subject area experts. Qualitative feedback was analyzed using thematic analysis. The themes that emerged included: differentiation from neurotypicality, level of insight, gender & sexuality, lack of prior training on female phenotype, and expression of items. Participant feedback was used to make modifications to the measure, which improved its face and content validity. This ultimately resulted in the creation of an experience-enriched interview protocol for female clients seeking better-informed autism evaluations.