Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How autism affects social interaction

William R. Yates, MD
Conditions
June 29, 2011
Share
Tweet
Share

One of the problems with understanding the natural history of autism is the lack of well-designed outcome studies in the disorder.  Outcome studies tend to be expensive and grant agencies commonly do not fund studies longer than a few years. However, given the increased interest and funding in autism, I suspect there will be more research in this area.

An example of how outcome studies help in understanding the natural history of autism is a study published by the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Dr. Gregory Liptak and colleagues from SUNY Upstate present a four year follow up of 725 adolescents with autism.  The average age at intake was 15.4 years with average age at follow up 19.2 years.

The study examined some key global items in function and social interaction.  I summarize some of the factors related to three key areas of function (% with this variable):

Being employed (48%) or in postsecondary education. This two-option level of achievement was positively correlated with higher family socioeconomic status (above the poverty level), not needing prescription drugs to control symptoms, good general physical health and having a parent who was involved in the school.  Negative correlations for this level of achievement was associated with conversational difficulty, a history of being teased and lower IQ.

Obtaining a driver’s license (4.5%). Few adolescents or young adults in this sample had a drivers’s license.  Again this achievement was associated with higher socioeconomic status, caucasian race, a two-parent household and parental involvement in school activities.  A negative correlation with obtaining a driver’s license was higher number of required school services.

Getting together with friends at least once in last 12 months (44.6%). A positive correlation was noted with communication ability and good general health status.  A weak negative association was noted with non-white race status and male gender.

The authors note that this group of young adults with autism showed persistent differences in academic achievement and  social behavior compared to age-matched adults without autism.  In the young adults with autism 83% were living with their parents and 75% never used instant messaging, a chat room or e-mail.

The authors noted that their study did not examine whether young adults with autism (or their families) wanted more social interaction.  We often assume the more social participation the better, but this may not be the same for all.

Even prospective studies have some limitations on interpreting causal contributions to outcome.  However, this study supports several components to planning services for children with autism.  These include reducing effects of poverty, reducing teasing/bullying in the environment, encouraging parents to be active in the school setting, early social and speech therapy and management of physical and mental co-occurring conditions.

William Yates is a family physician who blogs at Brain Posts.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Google Health failed because consumers did not see the value of a PHR

June 29, 2011 Kevin 17
…
Next

Using gender as sole determinant for a choice of doctor

June 29, 2011 Kevin 11
…

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Google Health failed because consumers did not see the value of a PHR
Next Post >
Using gender as sole determinant for a choice of doctor

ADVERTISEMENT

More by William R. Yates, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Exercise can help treat fibromyalgia

    William R. Yates, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Google affects how clinicians and the public collect diagnostic information

    William R. Yates, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Stressful life events in suicide attempts and completed suicides

    William R. Yates, MD

More in Conditions

  • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

    Kara Wada, MD
  • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

    Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH
  • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

    Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD
  • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

    Kristen Cline, BSN, RN
  • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

    George F. Smith, MD
  • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 4 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How autism affects social interaction
4 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...