Sex-specific metrics for success: Gaps in social word use are bigger for autistic girls than boys.

The study only looked at word frequency, not whether the words were used appropriately or in the right context. The data came from a single structured clinical interview, so it is unclear if these patterns hold up in natural conversations with peers. Participants may have felt different levels of comfort discussing social topics with an unfamiliar adult, which could influence how much they talked. The sample was largely White and educated and did not include individuals with intellectual disability, which limits how well these results apply to other populations. The study used assigned sex at birth and did not collect data on gender identity, so it cannot address nuances related to gender expression.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Do not assume that autistic girls have a specific deficit in social language relative to boys. The study found that autistic girls actually used more social words than autistic boys. The 'gap' is that they are trying to match a higher standard set by non-autistic girls, not that they are producing less language than their male counterparts.