Is Asperger's Syndrome more common in children or adults?

Answer 1

Asperger's Syndrome is diagnosed more often in males than in females. This could be because it occurs more often in males or it could be because it is not as easy to diagnose in females. For example, it is more likely to prompt concern if a boy seems withdrawn than if a girl seems "shy." As another example, it seems that the special interests of boys and girls differ, so a boy who is extremely interested in firearms will bother parents more than a girl who is extremely interested in horses, so they might discuss the boy with the doctor but not the girl.

Answer 2

Researchers are not yet sure whether Asperger's Syndrome affects more males than females, but more males than females are diagnosed. Some psychiatrists and therapists believe that an equal number of males and females are affected, but that females react to some of the difficulties of Asperger's Syndrome in different ways than boys, so are less likely to be diagnosed.

A boy might have a special interest in guns and explosives, which is more likely to cause a parent to take him to a psychiatrist than will a girl's special interest in mythological creatures. A boy who responds to the stress caused by Asperger's Syndrome with physical violence will draw more attention that a girl whose response is to retreat from the situation.

So, we do not know if more males than females are affected, but only that more males than females are diagnosed.

Answer 3

Asperger's Syndrome is a condition with a genetic component. A person has Asperger's Syndrome for his or her entire life.