AUTHOR=Mahendiran Tania , Brian Jessica , Dupuis Annie , Muhe Nadia , Wong Pui-Ying , Iaboni Alana , Anagnostou Evdokia 

TITLE=Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in Social and Communication Function in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2019

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00804

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00804

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Sex differences in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), have been well documented; still studies examining sex differences in social and communication in these disorders remain limited and inconclusive.
Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, a search was performed on studies (2000-2017) examining sex differences in social and communication abilities in ASD, ADHD and OCD compared to controls.
Results: Eleven studies met criteria for ASD, 6 studies for ADHD and none met criteria for OCD. No significant sex differences were found between ASD and controls in social (p=0.5), or communication abilities  (p=0.5) and between ADHD and controls in social  abilities (p=0.7). No studies were identified to evaluate sex differences in communication in ADHD. Significant heterogeneity was noted in all analyses. Type of measure may have partially accounted for some variability between studies.
Conclusions: A limited number of studies did not detect sex differences in social and communication abilities in children with ASD and ADHD;  however  significant heterogeneity was noted.  Future  larger studies, controlling for type of measure and including adequate numbers of female participants are required to further understand sex differences in these domains.