Female-to-male transsexuals could be more autistic - Cambridge University

[Shana A]

Female-to-male transsexuals could be more autistic - Cambridge University

Thursday, May 5, 2011 11:48 AM

http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/female_to_male_transsexuals_could_be_more_autistic_cambridge_university_1_884695

FEMALE-to-male transsexuals have a higher than average number of autistic traits, a new study from Cambridge University has found.

The study, published today in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, has important implications for the clinical management for girls with gender ambiguity that persists into adulthood, and for the 'extreme male brain theory' of autism.

The researchers measured autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and compared scores from five groups: 61 transmen, 198 transwomen: 76 typical males; 98 typical females; and 125 individuals with Asperger Syndrome.

[Nemo]

What, so the reason we need a sex change is now being blamed on autism? 'Cause that's what this seems like to me:

Rebecca Jones added: "If such girls do believe they have a boy's mind in a girl's body, their higher than average number of autistic traits may also mean they hold their beliefs very strongly, and pursue them to the logical conclusion: opting for sex reassignment surgery in adulthood."

This part bothers me the most. Try telling that to the psychiatrists who told me I definitely come across as male, that I'm sound of mind and that transition's definitely the right option. Okay, there may be more FTMs with autistic traits, but that doesn't mean that's what's causing the dysphoria!

[kyril]

Well, I'm trans and an Aspie. Maybe there is a connection, but it doesn't really make any difference if there is.

[pebbles]

No no don't misunderstand this has been speculated for awhile if anything it hints to the biological cause of transness.

Right what it should point out is that in autism there is a significant gender slant... The Majority of autistic sufferers are infact male...
There is a genetic component within the inheritance of autism whitch seems to be modulated and triggered by the presence of a high dose of testosersone in vivo.

This is further speculated by the "Extreme" male hypothesis proposed by a neurobiologist It's noted that when pepole look at an autistic brain it almost seems like an outlandish exaggerated characterture of what a male brain should be like.

given that FTMs have a much higher chance of begin autistic than the female wildtype population it would imply that there is somthing fundimentally and structurally 'more male' in an FTM's brain.

I think the commentary and discussion is fundimentally innaccurate. as a predisposition certainly dose not define the entire population and it's vuglar to imply that it dose.

I suppose It falls down to one of those things... Ie The Story of David Remier can be read that gender is innate therefore transsexuality exsists and is present from birth and not a social derangement, Or if you've read christian right wing blogs when they get there hands on the story they interpret it to mean that transsexuallity could NEVER exsist because look what happened to David Remier ¬.¬ ugh.