Autism Spectrum Disorder in Teenagers and Adults

Key points

  • People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges during the transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood.
  • Research suggests fewer young people with ASD have the same opportunities as their peers without ASD.
  • People with ASD may experience changes in their ASD symptoms, behaviors, and related health conditions during adolescence and young adulthood.
Happy teenage girl wearing bandana in the middle of other people

Overview

A greater number of children identified with ASD has led to a growing interest in the transition to adolescence and adulthood. For most young people, including those with ASD, adolescence and young adulthood are filled with new challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities. However, research suggests fewer young people with ASD have the same opportunities as their peers without ASD:

  • High rates of unemployment or under-employment1234567
  • Low participation in education beyond high school478
  • Majority continue to live with family members or relatives19
  • Limited opportunity for community or social activities—nearly 40% spend little or no time with friends6101112

In addition, individuals with ASD may experience changes in their ASD symptoms, behaviors, and co-occurring health conditions during adolescence and young adulthood. These changes can affect their ability to function and participate in the community.

CDC's work for adults with ASD

Planning for service needs

Beginning in 2018, CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network began to track 16-year-olds who had been identified with ASD by 8 years of age across five ADDM Network sites. These efforts will provide valuable information on identifying health care needs for youth with ASD and transition planning in special education services and potential service needs after high school.

Keep Reading: Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Promoting better outcomes

CDC's Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) began identifying children with ASD in the mid-2000s and these children are now beginning the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Through SEED Teen, CDC began tracking the changes that occur during this transition period to learn about factors that may promote more successful transitions and better outcomes in young adults with ASD.

In the current phase of SEED, known as SEED Follow-Up, CDC's goal is to learn how best to improve the health and functioning of children with ASD as they mature, better understand the service use and needs of children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD, and better understand how to support families.

Keep Reading: Past, Present, and Future Impact of SEED

Key Findings on Adults with ASD

A father is smiling with his son that his a disabiltiy
CDC and its partners are working together to learn more about people with ASD as they transition to adulthood.

Key Findings‎

CDC and its partners are working together on multiple projects looking at the needs of people with ASD as they transition to adulthood.
Find out what CDC is learning
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Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
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