Those who come from supportive families, retain a reasonable sense of self-esteem, and become relatively well-educated, stand a good chance of getting into solid relationships, finding good jobs and having a normal life.
In other cases, ASD symptoms are severe enough to affect speech and interpersonal relationship or the individual’s IQ is low enough to impair their ability to find a good job, leaving them with a low paying job or on disability.
Because some autistic individuals suffer from depression and OCD as adults, these secondary characteristics can negatively impact how the individual develops and grows into adulthood. Some have landed in prison for violent behavior against others.
Several research studies have looked at outcomes in ASD. In one study, outcome was looked at in a cross section of sufferers. After a five year followup using specific outcome criteria, the outcome in ASD was found to be good in 27% of cases. However, in 26% of cases, the individual maintained a very restricted life, with no occupation/activity to occupy their time and no friends.
The actual symptoms (e.g., ritual behaviors and obsessions) were less likely predictors of outcome. The study indicated that early intervention directed at improving communication was a good idea.
Finally, researchers studied an 8 year followup of a specialized job program for those with ASD to see if such a program helped improve job outcome. For those on the autism spectrum (IQ 60+) over an 8 year period, approximately 68 percent of clients found employment.
Of the 192 jobs found, most of the jobs were permanent contract work and most involved administrative, technical or computing work. The study indicated that programs like these can be helpful in improving career outcome in autistic individuals.
Resources for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum:
==> How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
==> Parenting System that Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder
==> Launching Adult Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance
==> Teaching Social-Skills and Emotion-Management to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
==> Unraveling the Mystery Behind High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book
==> Crucial Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism
==> Parenting System that Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder
==> Launching Adult Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance
==> Teaching Social-Skills and Emotion-Management to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
==> Unraveling the Mystery Behind High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book
==> Crucial Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism
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Does this include early vs late detection. I have been caught in the kid got diagnosed lare becasue everyone was blaming ADHD and the parents must be doing something wrong instead of the kid being off. That coupled by waiting 1 year for testing. He was caught so late he has no interest in interventions becasue he believes he is just fine. The sad part is the only way we got mental help at all in the first place was we have a younger son and the doctor started listening when younger son was passing milestones and brother wasn't and asd was not brought up as an option until his teens.
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