Brief report: female-to-male transsexual people and autistic traits.

Researchers gave the Autism Spectrum Quotient to four groups: transmen, transwomen, typical men, and typical women. They also compared scores to people already diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. The goal was to see if gender identity and autistic traits overlap.

The study used a short survey design. No one received any intervention.

Transmen scored higher than every other group except people with Asperger Syndrome. Their average sat between typical adults and diagnosed adults. Transwomen scored like typical women.

Kuenzel et al. (2021) extends the picture. They asked autistic adults about sexual orientation and found more asexual and LGBTQA+ identities than in non-autistic adults. Together the two papers hint that both gender identity and sexual orientation sit on the same broad autism-trait spectrum.

Austin et al. (2015) conceptually replicate the AQ effect. In typical adults, higher AQ scores slowed reading of odd figurative phrases. The same trait tool that separated transmen from typical groups also predicts tiny language-processing gaps in neurotypicals.

Capio et al. (2013) add brain data. In typical adults, mild autistic traits linked to more gray matter in certain spots. The behavioral pattern seen in transmen may have a brain-structure echo, even when no diagnosis is present.

If you assess an adult who reports gender-transition or diverse orientation, consider running the AQ. Elevated scores do not mean a new diagnosis, but they flag social-cognitive styles you can address in therapy. Use clear literal language, check for sensory needs, and plan extra time for perspective-taking tasks. These small tweaks honor both identity and neuro-style without pathologizing either.