Researchers find diagnosing autism and ADHD more difficult in girls

A study from the University of Gothenburg says that girls who report symptoms of autism or ADHD to their doctors are often misdiagnosed.

Research focused on 100 girls who went to their medical professional revealing that they had difficulties with social interaction and focusing at school. Studies found almost half were misdiagnosed after they were given a psychiatric and psychological exam in their adulthood.

Furthermore, patients who had both autism and ADHD, also had other psychiatric and developmental neurological disorders, including anxiety and depression, experts found. Researchers say that girls with ADHD smoked more frequently than those who did not have any signs of the condition.

They added that the results are "particularly disturbing" because those who were studied did not have "disadvantaged" social backgrounds.

According to a 2007 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys are four times more likely than girls to develop autism in the U.S.. Furthermore, approximately 24,000 people are diagnosed with autism every year in the U.S.