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Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts individuals across the lifespan. Therefore, to support individuals across lifespan stages, it is important to regular monitor and re-evaluate individual’s progress throughout his or her life.
School-Age Children
Autism symptoms are often easier to identify in school-age children due to the gap between age and social challenges is bigger.
Evaluations involve assessment of a child’s:
- speech
- language
- communication
- social skills
- intellectual functioning
- behaviors
- adaptive function.
Assessment is done through direct testing and developmental and educational history.
While at school, children may exhibit an increase in:
- learning, particularly when moving from concrete to abstract topics and concepts
- behavioral challenges, including aggression, tantrums, melt-downs, and self-injury
- emotions, particularly anxiety due to the need to navigate social complexities, as well as atypical reactions to the environment, like fears and phobias, and obsessive compulsive behaviors.
Research has also shown that up to 60% of indivdiuals show a range of behaviors that may be:
- self-injurious
- aggressive
- oppositional
- disruptive, or
- destructive.
Additionally, some may show behaviros that are of more serious safety concern, like:
- elopment
- self-injury
- pica (eating non-food items, like clay or soil).
Children may also exhibit symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity beyond what would be expected for ASD. As a result, they may be diagnosed with ADHD as well.
Adolescents and Adults
While symptoms of ASD may be identified in the first few years of life, many adults, like the woman on the video at the top of the page, remain unidentified or misidentified with another disorder. Often requests for evaluations at this age are due to a specific need, like transition to adulthood, planning for college, eligibility for state services, and others.
The majority of individuals with ASD have above-average intellectual abilities, and have the capacity to be independent adults. Yet, over half of the adult population with ASD are unable to find employment, live independently, self-care, or establish meaning social relationships.
Similarly to school-age children, adults often have high rates of co-morbid conditions, including:
- anxiety disorders
- depressive disorders
- ADHD.
For more information on adults with ASD, go to Adult page.
Additional Resources
Klaiman, C., et al. (2015). Assessment of autism across the lifespan: A way forward. Current Developmental Disorders Report, 2(1), 84-92
Murphy et al. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder in adults: Diagnosis, management, and health services development. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 1669-1686
References
Klaiman, C., et al. (2015). Assessment of autism across the lifespan: A way forward. Current Developmental Disorders Report, 2(1), 84-92
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