Camouflaging is a process through which individuals mask autistic traits. Studies suggest autistic females may camouflage more than autistic males. However, research has focused on adults and includes few comparisons between autistic and neurotypical individuals. This study compared levels of camouflaging by sex and diagnosis in autistic and neurotypical adolescents. Females reported higher overall levels of camouflaging when not accounting for age. When accounting for age, an age by diagnosis interaction effect emerged. This possible effect of age on camouflaging has implications for understanding how camouflaging behaviors develop and warrants further exploration. Differences also emerged on behaviors labeled as masking and assimilation, subcomponents of camouflaging, with females appearing more similar to their neurotypical peers on behaviors related to social awareness.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate preference for and reinforcing efficacy of a therapy dog to increase verbal statements across different contingencies. Five children with autism spectrum disorder ages 3‐8 years participated. Alternating treatments and reversal designs were used to compare conditions in which (a) a therapy dog was not present, (b) access to a therapy dog was noncontingent, (c) access to a therapy dog was contingent on interacting with a therapist, and (d) access to another preferred item was contingent on interacting with a therapist. Results varied across participants. Noncontingent access to the therapy dog slightly increased verbal statements for 1 participant. Contingent access to the therapy dog increased social interactions for 2 participants; however, this was the most effective intervention for only 1 participant. Practitioners should be aware that some clients may be better suited for interventions including therapy dogs than others.

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[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Examining sex differences in individuals on the autism spectrum has been a major focus of recent research in the field. Of particular interest is the concept of camouflaging, through which individuals work to mask their autistic traits. Previous research has suggested that camouflaging may negatively impact mental health and that autistic females may be more likely to camouflage than autistic males. However, research in this area is limited to autistic adults and has not typically included neurotypical comparison groups. A better understanding of camouflaging in younger individuals, and how camouflaging may be similar and different among autistic and neurotypical individuals, is needed. The purpose of this study was to compare levels of camouflaging, motivations for and consequences of camouflaging, levels of internalizing symptoms, and correlations between camouflaging and internalizing symptoms in neurotypical and autistic adolescents. The results of this study indicated that (1) adolescent females are more likely to camouflage than males when not accounting for age, (2) there may be qualitative differences in the camouflaging of autistic and neurotypical males and females, and (3) camouflaging is significantly correlated with internalizing symptoms, though these correlations may be different for autistic and neurotypical adolescents.