Is Autism Really More Common in Boys? Rethinking the Numbers and Myths

 A lot of parents have heard that autism is "more common in boys" - but that simple line can raise big questions (and sometimes big worries). In this episode, Maya Talukdar from Harvard Medical Schooll joins Paul to help us sort out what might be going on, from how girls can be overlooked or mislabeled to the fascinating idea that some girls may have a built-in "buffer" that makes autism harder to spot. We'll translate the science into real-life takeaways—what parents should notice, and how this knowledge can lead to earlier support for kids who need it. In this episode, Paul And Maya discuss the following: Is Autism Really More Common in Boys? - What the Numbers Say - and What They Don't… Why Girls Can Get Missed: Masking, Different Symptoms, and How Stereotypes Shape Diagnoses The "Female Protective Effect" in Plain English: A Possible Built-In Buffer (and Why It Matters) What Parents Can Do Next: Signs to Watch For, and Where Research May Help Families Soon