Sexuality in adolescent boys with autism spectrum disorder: self-reported behaviours and attitudes.

Dewinter et al. (2015) asked high-school boys with autism about sex.

They used pen-and-paper surveys. The teens answered questions on behaviours, feelings, and attitudes.

A same-age group without autism filled out the same forms for comparison.

The two groups looked almost the same on dating, kissing, and intercourse.

One clear difference stood out: boys with autism were more accepting of same-sex attraction.

Otherwise, sexual development followed the typical teen timeline.

Nevin et al. (2005) asked parents of autistic teens the same topic. Those parents reported big worries about their sons’ sexual behaviour.

Jeroen’s new data flip the lens. When the teens speak for themselves, the scary picture fades. The earlier worry seems to come from parent fear, not teen action.

Uljarević et al. (2018) showed surveys work well with autistic youth. Their HADS study proved teens can give reliable self-report, backing the trust we can place on Jeroen’s findings.

You can stop assuming autistic boys are behind in sexuality. Plan sex-ed at the usual age. Cover consent, safety, and orientation without talking down. Use the same social stories and visuals you use for daily living skills. Parents may still feel anxious; share these teen voices to calm fears and keep lessons grounded in facts, not myths.