As we learn more about how autism looks in women and girls, you may be wondering if your twin girls are autistic. You may have noticed things that seemed different at the time, repetitive behaviors, difficulty with social interactions, and sensory over or understimulation. Autistic twin girls may share similar interests, behaviors, and challenges, making their connection even stronger.

How is autism different in girls?

Autism in girls can often look different than what people expect is the “typical” presentation in boys. This can sometimes lead to underdiagnosis, as girls may be better at masking or camouflaging their symptoms. A 2022 study found that as many as 80% of autistic girls may still be undiagnosed when they reach their 18th birthday. How might we help autistic twin. triplet and quadruplet girls get the support they need sooner?

Autistic girls may strive for perfection and have rigid routines, which can lead to anxiety and stress when they cannot keep these routines. They can also mimic social behaviors better than boys, making it harder to recognize their difficulties. They may appear to be socially adept, but internally, they may struggle with understanding social cues and maintaining friendships.

Sonya’s daughter wasn’t diagnosed until age 10 because she learned a lot of social cues from her twin sister. “Because Iris is a twin with a sister, she could imitate Violet, copy the way she acted, talked and played to hide and blend in. She was struggling to understand the world and why it felt so different to her, so she hid behind learned behaviour.”

While autistic boys may exhibit repetitive behaviors like hand-flapping or rocking, girls may engage in more subtle behaviors, such as repetitive thoughts or intense focus on specific interests. Mom Karlee, whose identical twin girls are both autistic, explains how her girls were just different from her neurotypical son. They “…were really difficult to play with, and still are. I’d get on the floor and play with them, only to have them turn their back to me and continue to spin the wheels on a car or part of a toy. It is next to impossible to interact with them, and it’s been this way since birth. You really have to work HARD to get their attention and to hold it. It wasn’t as obvious until they were more mobile, so around 9-10 months when they started to sit up and could move themselves away from me….”

Girls also might have intense interests that are more like their neurotypical peers, such as animals, makeup, dance or music. Autistic girls are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, which can sometimes be misdiagnosed as the primary issue. Sam, twin mom and founder of The Curly Hair Project explained that her daughter was initially diagnosed with an eating disorder, and was later diagnosed as autistic at age 14.

Just one twin, or both?

One of the main questions we hear in our Community is whether it is possible for just one twin or triplet to be autistic, while the others aren’t. And the answer is yes. If your twins or triplets are identical, there is a greater chance if one is autistic, the others are, however this is also not always the case. Fraternal twins, triplets and quadruplets have just as much chance being autistic as any other set of siblings would.

Seeking support

Because of the challenges in recognizing autism in girls, they may be diagnosed much later than boys are. You may find that your daughters cope with elementary school, and things start to fall apart in middle school. Add puberty in the mix and it’s at this time that many girls are no longer able to keep up the mask.

If you think one or all of your girls are autistic, take a look at the diagnosis process in your area to know where to get started. You’ve already found our site, which is a great head start to understanding. Be sure to join our Community as well!

Do you have autistic triplet or twin girls? Share your experiences in the comments below! Be sure to subscribe for the latest news and updates!

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