✓ High levels of masking and camouflaging - Autistic women often hide their difficulties by copying others, rehearsing social behaviour, or forcing themselves to appear socially fluent, which leads to exhaustion and delayed diagnosis.

✓ Subtle or internalised social‑communication differences - They may seem socially capable but still struggle with reading cues, maintaining reciprocal conversation, or understanding unspoken social rules.

✓ Intense but socially acceptable special interests - Deep, focused interests that look typical (e.g., animals, books, celebrities) but are pursued with unusual intensity, making them harder to recognise as autistic traits.

✓ Sensory sensitivities - Heightened sensitivity to noise, light, textures, smells, or touch, often leading to overwhelm, avoidance, or shutdowns.

✓ Emotional overwhelm and internalised distress - Instead of outward behavioural difficulties, many autistic women experience anxiety, shutdowns, or emotional overload.

✓ Difficulty maintaining friendships - They may appear socially included but often experience one‑sided friendships, social confusion, or chronic loneliness.

✓ Strong need for routine and predictability - Unexpected changes, transitions, or disruptions can cause significant anxiety or distress.

✓ Repetitive behaviours or subtle stimming - Behaviours may be less obvious — such as hair twirling, fidgeting, or mental repetition — and therefore overlooked.

✓ Difficulty interpreting figurative language - Sarcasm, metaphors, jokes, and indirect communication may be taken literally or cause confusion.

✓ Chronic exhaustion or autistic burnout - Masking, sensory overload, and social effort often lead to long‑term fatigue, burnout, or withdrawal.