Outcomes for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: General Social Functioning

Abstract

Background: Earlier reports from different parts of the world reported fair to poor outcome of ASD in adolescence and young adult life. Method: Eighty children diagnosed as ASD from a public clinic and a day care centre for adolescent made the study sample. 59, (73%) of sample’s mothers were contacted by telephone 10-15 year after diagnoses to assess their children general social functioning and behaviour. Children were not seen or examined. Results: Sample mean age was 17.3 year–St Dev. 4.8 year, and mean age at diagnosis was 3.2 year. Male, female ratio was 4:1. Almost all attended day care programs for ASD and 10% are in regular school. A quarter of cases had friends and all were living with their families. None are married or hold a regular job. Researcher scored more small gains while mothers reported more substantial gains. Discussion and conclusion: 10-15 year outcome of children with ASD showed mixed results. Parents reported considerable benefits in social adjustment in half of the sample in comparison in quarter by independent researcher. Reasons for such difference were discussed. In future, we need to expand the follow up duration and use measurable parameters to assess benefits.