New research suggests that transgender and non-binary individuals are significantly more likely to have autism or display autistic traits than the wider population – particularly in females – which raises important questions about the best way to treat gender dysphoria.

The Catholic News Agency (CNA) is reporting on the study, led by Dr. Steven Stagg of Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, which studied 177 people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or as the gender of their biological sex. Researchers found that 14 percent of the transgender and non-binary (persons who identify as neither male or female) had a diagnosis of autism.

In addition, 28 percent of this group reached the cut-off point for an autism diagnosis which suggests a high number of potentially undiagnosed individuals.

“These figures were primarily driven by high scoring amongst those whose assigned gender was female at birth, supporting recent evidence that there is a large population of undiagnosed women with an autism spectrum disorder,” Neuroscience News reports.

For example, in England, girls make up 74 percent of patients in the country’s only gender clinic for minors, Tavistock. In 2019, more than half of the patients referred to Tavistock were under the age of 14 and there are 2.8 girls referred for every boy.

Iin just the past year, the number of girls who have been referred to Tavistock jumped from 32 in 2008-2009 to 1,740 in 2018-2019. This dramatic increase prompted the UK government to open an inquiry into why so many young girls want to change their gender.

“The statistics we have been made aware of show that more and more young people, particularly girls, are using health services to explore changing their gender,” said Penny Mordaunt, Minister for Women & Equalities.

“It is vitally important that we prioritize finding out why this is the case, making sure we gain an understanding of the driving factors behind this whilst doing everything we can to support these individuals and their families,” she said.

With the Stagg study identifying 28 percent of the transgender or non-binary group who exhibit traits that would result in an autism diagnosis, this could mean that autism is being significantly underdiagnosed, particularly among girls.

“Our study suggests it is important that gender identity clinics screen patients for autism spectrum disorders and adapt their consultation process and therapy accordingly,” Dr. Stagg recommends.

Ryan Anderson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and the author of “When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment” agrees. He told CNA that this study is further proof of how little understanding there is about the best means of treating cases of gender dysphoria.

"This is another in an ever-growing list of studies which reveal just how little we know about the underlying causes of gender dysphoria,” said Anderson. “It should prompt people to exercise great caution before making any life-altering medical interventions on the bodies of young people."

 

Last month, the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education issued a document that found gender ideology to be opposed to faith and reason and offered guidance to Catholic parents and educators about how to address the many challenges this new movement is creating in our schools.

In one section of the document, it pointed toward women as being particularly important in the quest to inject faith and clarity into this discussion because of their unique genius and work in the field of education.

“Women have a unique understanding of reality. They possess a capacity to endure adversity and ‘to keep life going even in extreme situations’ and hold on ‘tenaciously to the future’," the document states.

"This helps explain why ‘wherever the work of education is called for, we can note that women are ever ready and willing to give themselves generously to others, especially in serving the weakest and most defenseless. In this work they exhibit a kind of affective, cultural and spiritual motherhood which has inestimable value for the development of individuals and the future of society.”

In light of the study’s findings regarding the high number of females who are affected by autism and gender dysphoria, this statement is particularly significant. Women who are imbued with the spirit of the Gospel can use their unique understanding of the female reality to help these confused young women navigate their way through a difficult time of identity crisis by being both a listening ear, a giver of sound advice, and a committed spiritual mother.

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