Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects thought, perception and attention. It is usually first diagnosed during early childhood, but with some children, the symptoms may become more apparent at a later age. Autism is a lifelong condition that is treatable with behavior modification, changes in diet and specialized psychosocial education. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 730,000 Americans show some form of autism before age 21. Each year, there are around 36,500 new diagnoses of autism. Autism symptoms can vary depending on age and severity. Teenagers can display symptoms specific to their age and puberty transition.
Social Dysfunction
Teens with autism have a particularly hard time making the social transitions that take place during adolescence. They may have difficulty communicating with others, have a limited range in interests and activities that involve groups of people, and they may easily become upset from changes to their environment or routine. In the October 2007 issue of the "Journal of Autism Development and Disorders," Paul Shattuck and associates found that teenagers were the age group that displayed the highest incidence of repetitive behaviors, stereotyped interests and impairments in social reciprocity. The researchers also found that teens exhibited the highest incidence of maladaptive social behaviors and made the smallest gains in functional improvements.
Communication and Academic Needs
Teens with autism may also have difficulties with communication and often show impaired academic performance. Early intervention and properly trained school specialists can assist with autism specific learning disabilities. According to the text-revised fourth edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," teens may have communication impairments through delayed language development, difficulty sustaining or engaging in conversations and have stereotyped or repetitive language. These communication impairments can affect academic performance and may require specialized classes that are flexible and adaptive to autistic learning styles. The University of Michigan states that teens with autism are more prone to depression and anxiety and this can be an additional negative factor in communication and academic performance.
Seizures
Teens with autism have much higher rates of seizures. According to Dr. Stephen Edelson at the Autism Research Institute, about one in four teens with autism start to develop seizures during puberty. No one is sure why the seizures occur, but it is proposed that the onset of new hormones may be a trigger. Some predictors of teen autism seizures include aggression, self-injury, severe tantrums and a decline in behavior or cognitive ability. Dr. Edelson also states that parents can significantly reduce seizure activity in their teen by supplementing the diet with vitamin B6, magnesium and dimethylglycine.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Autism Spectrum Disorders-Data & Statistics
- "Journal of Autism Development and Disorders"; Change in Autism Symptoms and Maladaptive Behaviors in Adolescents and Adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder; Paul Shattuck et al; October 2007
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Text-Revised, Fourth Edition"; American Psychiatric Association; July 2000
- Autism Research Institute: Autism, Puberty, and the Possibility of Seizures
- University of Michigan Health System: Autism
