Autism in women: 'My diagnosis was missed in childhood because I was socialised to comply'

Social bias can lead to missed diagnosis so, for example, a little girl who is overly-formulaic about lining up her toys is seen as neat and cute, while a boy doing the same thing draws attention.

For many years it was believed that autism was a condition affecting only males. Kathy D'Arcy and Jody O'Neill, diagnosed later in life, explain how they spent years trying to decipher the secret code that seemed to allow others to communicate and connect so easily.

ONE IN 65 school children in Ireland has autism, according to the most recent study from the National Council for Special Education.