April 13 is Autism Adolescence Day

Recognizing the transitions that come with adolescence in autism, along with the current inadequacy of needed supports, care and services. Translatable solutions are needed now. 

April 13 is Autism Adolescence Day

Because being a teenager isn't hard enough already

Compared to Neurotypical Teens, Autistic teens face greater challenges in 

Social Front. 

• Social Isolation/Loneliness, Social Difficulties, fewer friendships/social contacts, lesser time spent on social activities (1,2,3)
• Mental health, suicide ideation  and NSSI 
• Bullying and victimization
• Navigating educational system & workplace due to social and communication difficulties

Health Issues. 

• Seizure onset  15%  (compared to 0.5 - 1% in general population) (4). 
• Higher prevalence of atypical or non-convulsive seizures in autistic teens compared to non-autistic (5). 
• Increased prevalence of epilepsy in autistic teens  (11.4%) compared to 0.5% in general population (6).
• Sleep disturbance at 50-80%- insomnia, nightmares, and irregular sleep-wake cycles (7).
• Sensory sensitivities at 88% (non-autistic teens 58%) (8). 
• GI symptoms in autistic kids compared to non-autistic kids. In a 2014 study (9) figures are 43.5% compared to 18.1%. In a  2010 study (10), figures are 46-85% compared to 9-10%). Which means the prevalence is higher in autistic teens as well. 'Autistic teenagers at increased risk for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.
• Co-occuring condition in 70% of autistics -  anxiety disorders 41%,  ADHD 31% & mood disorders 16% (11).
• Nuero-inflammatory markers in autistic teens
• Obesity 22.4% (general population 15.6%) (14)
• Asthma 22.2% (general population 12.8%) (15) 
• Allergies  23.9% (general population 18.4%) (16)

References

• (1) Bauminger, N., & Kasari, C. (2000). Loneliness and friendship in high-functioning children with autism. Child Development, 71(2), 447-456. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00156
• (2) Locke, J., Williams, J., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2015). Characteristics of socially successful elementary school-aged children with autism. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 56(11), 1239-1248. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12410
• (3) Orsmond, G. I., & Kuo, H. Y. (2011). The daily lives of adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder: Discretionary time use and activity partners. Autism, 15(5), 579-599. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361310386503
• (4) Tuchman, R., & Cuccaro, M. (2011). Epilepsy and autism: neurodevelopmental perspective. Current neurology and neuroscience reports, 11(4), 428-434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-011-0207-2
• (5) Besag, F. M. (2018). Epilepsy in patients with autism: links, risks and treatment challenges. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S144663
• (6) Jokiranta-Olkoniemi, E., Cheslack-Postava, K., Sucksdorff, D., Suominen, A., Gyllenberg, D., Chudal, R., . . . Brown, A. S. (2014). Risk of epilepsy among 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and autism spectrum disorder cohorts. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(11), 2811-2821. doi: 10.1007/s10803-014-2155-5
• (7) Richdale, A. L., & Schreck, K. A. (2009). Sleep problems in autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, nature, and possible biopsychosocial aetiologies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 13(6), 403-411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2009.02.003
• (8) Leekam, S. R., Nieto, C., Libby, S. J., Wing, L., & Gould, J. (2007). Describing the sensory abnormalities of children and adults with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(5), 894-910. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0218-7
• (9) McElhanon, B. O., McCracken, C., Karpen, S., & Sharp, W. G. (2014). Gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 133(5), 872-883. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-3995
• (10) Buie, T., Campbell, D. B., Fuchs, G. J., Furuta, G. T., Levy, J., Vandewater, J., Whitaker, A. H., Atkins, D., Bauman, M. L., Beaudet, A. L., Carr, E. G., Gershon, M. D., Hyman, S. L., Jirapinyo, P., Jyonouchi, H., Kooros, K., Kushak, R., Levitt, P., ... Winter, H. (2010). Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with ASDs: A consensus report. Pediatrics, 125(Suppl 1), S1-S18. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2009-1878C
• (11) Leyfer, O. T., Folstein, S. E., Bacalman, S., Davis, N. O., Dinh, E., Morgan, J., ... & Lainhart, J. E. (2006). Comorbid psychiatric disorders in children with autism: interview development and rates of disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 36(7), 849-861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0123-0
• (12) Li, X., Chauhan, A., Sheikh, A. M., Patil, S., Chauhan, V., & Li, X. M. (2018). Elevated immune response in the brain of autistic patients. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 15(1), 114. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1173-3
• (13) Morgan, J. T., Chana, G., Pardo, C. A., Achim, C., Semendeferi, K., Buckwalter, J., ... & Everall, I. P. (2010). Microglial activation and increased microglial density observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in autism. Biological Psychiatry, 68(4), 368-376. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.05.024
• (14) Curtin, C., Jojic, M., & Bandini, L. G. (2010). Obesity in children with autism spectrum disorders. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 18(4), 196-204. doi: 10.3109/10673229.2010.501378
• (15) Begeer, S., El Bouk, S., Boussaid, W., Terwogt, M. M., & Koot, H. M. (2013). Underdiagnosis and referral bias of asthma in children undergoing a diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7(2), 407-413. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2012.09.006
• (16) Zerbo, O., Leong, A., Barcellos, L., Bernal, P., Fireman, B., Croen, L. A. (2018). Immunoglobulin levels and risk of autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 54, 68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2018.05.007