Teen's Journey with Autism Diagnosis
During her time in sixth grade, Cosi, now 16 years old, faced challenges in school and battled anxiety without knowing the underlying cause.
"It can be really hard to go through these struggles that make you different from a lot of other people without a reason," Cosi shared with CBS News.
After a period of uncertainty, she was eventually diagnosed with autism, a developmental disorder that impacts social skills, communication, and behavior.
"It really happened after three years or so of trying to figure out why some things in school were hard for her, why she was struggling," her mother expressed.
Autism in young girls is often overlooked and can even be misdiagnosed, according to Dr. Cynthia Martin, senior director of the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute.
"We see higher rates of diagnoses of anxiety or depression and the autism really gets missed," Martin explained, highlighting the challenges in identifying autism in girls.
Girls may not always meet the traditional criteria for autism, and their ability to mimic their peers' behaviors can make it harder to spot symptoms. However, receiving an accurate diagnosis can be transformative.
"Knowing that that's coming from a neurodevelopmental disorder can help them better understand themselves and better navigate the world and advocate for what they need," Martin says.
- Creating a whimsical fairy forest for her son with autism, a mother wanted him to have a space to explore nature.
While autism is thought to be more common in boys, it's important for parents and clinicians to pay attention to the signs in girls. If a child is struggling to understand social rules or having trouble navigating conflicts with friends, experts say you may want to consider an autism evaluation.
If a diagnosis is missed, a young person could miss out on the support they need or develop other behavioral problems.
Cosi says her diagnosis, along with therapy and medication, have helped. Now she's encouraging other girls who are struggling to speak up.
"Sometimes you can know yourself better than anyone else, and you could be going through something, and nobody else will know, and if you don't talk about it and try to find those answers, then you won't," she says.
- A 5-year-old girl with autism mistakes a bride for Cinderella and has a magical moment with a kind stranger
