4 ms·

> observed to a greater extent with trans men I wonder if that's a result of autism being under-diagnosed in women (and that under-diagnosis carrying over to t

by jauer 6y ago

> observed to a greater extent with trans men I wonder if that's a result of autism being under-diagnosed in women (and that under-diagnosis carrying over to trans women).

wozzeck 6y ago
I would be surprised if that carried over to trans women, i.e. people assigned male at birth, especially if most are diagnosed as children (and thus prior to transitioning, in most cases).
- ladberg 6y ago
  I'd bet that jauer meant to say trans men (the terminology can be confusing at first) because autism is typically diagnosed earlier in life than a gender transition, so if it's under-diagnosed in women then it would also be under-diagnosed in trans men.
  - jauer 6y ago
    Transitioned a while back, didn't get it backwards :) To elaborate: I was wondering if trans men (AFAB) acquire the male-gendered autistic traits and trans women (AMAB) acquire the female-gendered traits (and underdiagnoses from diagnostic criteria being focused on male norms). Why I'm curious: I was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult (no access to MH care as a child because raised in a cult), transitioned, and after 3 years of HRT got a new psych who laughed at the idea that I could have AS and removed it from my chart. His reasoning was that my interpersonal skills were not impaired in a way that is typical of autistic people. This is a common reason why women with autism are under-diagnosed. I had terrible interpersonal skills pre-transition. HRT gave me access to a wider range of emotions, which might have something to do with it. E.g. I can actually understand the emotional currents in movies, which is nice. But, now I'm curious if autistic symptoms are another one of those things that change with hormones.
    - wozzeck 6y ago
      Oh, thanks for the clarification! I'm also wondering if I've become "more autistic" since transitioning (to male), but it's not clear to me how much of it would be due to hormonal changes and how much would be due to no longer needing to perform certain kinds of social/emotional upkeep.
    - ladberg 6y ago
      Damn I’m gonna see myself on /r/DontYouKnowWhoIAm :)

by jauer 6y ago

> observed to a greater extent with trans men I wonder if that's a result of autism being under-diagnosed in women (and that under-diagnosis carrying over to trans women).

wozzeck 6y ago

I would be surprised if that carried over to trans women, i.e. people assigned male at birth, especially if most are diagnosed as children (and thus prior to transitioning, in most cases).

ladberg 6y ago
I'd bet that jauer meant to say trans men (the terminology can be confusing at first) because autism is typically diagnosed earlier in life than a gender transition, so if it's under-diagnosed in women then it would also be under-diagnosed in trans men.
- jauer 6y ago
  Transitioned a while back, didn't get it backwards :) To elaborate: I was wondering if trans men (AFAB) acquire the male-gendered autistic traits and trans women (AMAB) acquire the female-gendered traits (and underdiagnoses from diagnostic criteria being focused on male norms). Why I'm curious: I was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult (no access to MH care as a child because raised in a cult), transitioned, and after 3 years of HRT got a new psych who laughed at the idea that I could have AS and removed it from my chart. His reasoning was that my interpersonal skills were not impaired in a way that is typical of autistic people. This is a common reason why women with autism are under-diagnosed. I had terrible interpersonal skills pre-transition. HRT gave me access to a wider range of emotions, which might have something to do with it. E.g. I can actually understand the emotional currents in movies, which is nice. But, now I'm curious if autistic symptoms are another one of those things that change with hormones.
  - wozzeck 6y ago
    Oh, thanks for the clarification! I'm also wondering if I've become "more autistic" since transitioning (to male), but it's not clear to me how much of it would be due to hormonal changes and how much would be due to no longer needing to perform certain kinds of social/emotional upkeep.
  - ladberg 6y ago
    Damn I’m gonna see myself on /r/DontYouKnowWhoIAm :)