HOT TOPIC: Not the Typical Profile: Sex Specific Differences in Social, Attention, and Sensory Traits in Autistic Children
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Course Description
Purpose: Autistic girls are frequently under-identified and may present with distinct social, sensory, and attention profiles. This study aimed to clarify sex differences in these core traits among autistic and neurotypical children.
Method: Cross-sectional study of 98 children (8–12 years): autistic (34 boys, 10 girls) and neurotypical (32 boys, 22 girls). Inclusion criteria: verbal communication and IQ > 65. Caregivers completed the Social Responsiveness Scale–2 (SRS-2) and Sensory Profile–2 (SP-2), and children completed Test of Everyday Attention for Children–2 (TEACH-2). Analyses used a 2(group) × 2(sex) multivariate analysis of variance for each measure.
Results: For autism characteristics (SRS-2), the group × sex interaction was significant (Pillai’s V=.21, F(7,88)=3.36, p=.003), with autistic girls showing more severe scores than autistic boys on social motivation, communication, cognition, communication interaction T-score, and Total T-score. For sensory processing quadrants, the group × sex interaction was significant (Pillai’s V=.14, F(4,91)=3.77, p=.007), with higher sensory avoiding in autistic girls versus boys. For attention, although there was a significant group effect, there was no group x sex interaction. No sex differences emerged within neurotypical children across the three measures. Conclusion: Autistic girls in late childhood demonstrated greater social difficulties and sensory avoidance than boys, despite similar attention-related challenges across autistic children. Findings support the possibility of sex-differentiated autism phenotypes, particularly in social motivation/communication and sensory avoidance, and emphasize the importance of considering sex-related presentation differences during screening, assessment, and intervention to better address social participation and sensory regulation in autistic girls.
Speakers
Kati Garibian OTD, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist in Columbus, Ohio, with previous clinical experience in outpatient care. She completed interdisciplinary leadership training through The Ohio State University Nisonger Center’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, strengthening her interests in collaborative, community-engaged care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Kati is currently pursuing a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University under the mentorship of Dr. Jewel Crasta. Using electroencephalography (EEG) and parent-report questionnaires, their research investigates relationships between neural processing and adaptive functioning skills in autistic children and young adults. A central focus of her work is understanding sex-related differences in autism characteristics, including differences in social functioning, attention, and sensory processing and the potential influence of masking behaviors among autistic females. Through this work, Kati aims to bridge neuroscience and occupational therapy to support more individualized care for clients’ occupational needs.
Amy Watson-Grace OTD, OTR/L, BCP, is an occupational therapist with extensive clinical experience in both school-based and private practice. Building on her clinical work, Amy is currently a PhD candidate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University. Her research examines disability, neurodevelopment, and health equity, with a particular focus on autism sex differences and diagnostic disparity, sensory processing, educational policy, and access to healthcare and educational services. To investigate how individual, clinical, and systemic factors influence outcomes across the lifespan, she integrates mixed-methods and population health research approaches, including qualitative analysis, multilevel modeling, policy analysis, survey methods, and large secondary datasets. Through this work, she aims to generate evidence that informs more equitable healthcare, educational, and disability policies and practices.
Jewel Crasta PhD, OTR/L is an associate professor in the Occupational Therapy Division in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University. Dr. Crasta’s research focuses on examining brain-behavior relationships of attention and sensory processing in individuals on the autism spectrum.
Presentation Slides – Access/Download PDF
Content Level
Intermediate: This level assumes the audience has general familiarity with the literature and professional practice. The focus of the presentation is on increased understanding and application by the participants.
Practice Areas
Children and Youth