The Hannah's Gift Briefing
‘She Masked, She Masked, She Masked’: Unseen Autism And Its Toll On Young Girls
Girls with autism are diagnosed significantly later than boys, often not until adolescence, causing them to miss early interventions and increasing their risk of co-occurring mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The story centers on Ruby Hobbs-Leffler, diagnosed at 14 and died by suicide at 15, whose mother is raising awareness about how autistic girls are overlooked. Children with autism are significantly more likely than neurotypical peers to experience these co-occurring conditions.
What this means for families: Girls showing sensory sensitivities or emotional dysregulation may benefit from autism-specific evaluation, even if a diagnosis has not yet been considered.