Resource Document: Communication and Interaction Challenges for Autistic Adults

Date: July 19, 2019
Time to read: 2 minutes.

Autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are terms for a group of complex neurodevelopmental disabilities that affect social communication, sensory processing, and scope of interests. While autism is typically diagnosed in children, approximately one percent of adults meet the criteria for autism. [1] Communicating and interacting with adults with autism can be challenging for care coordinators and other health care professionals.  Adults with autism experience different behavioral symptoms and communication patterns, which may make it hard to understand the preferences and needs they are trying to communicate.

It is important for care coordinators and other health care professionals to understand that while autistic adults may communicate differently than other adults, they are still communicating important messages about their symptoms, needs, and experiences. This resource addresses possible barriers that care coordinators and other health care professionals may face when communicating and interacting with adults with autism and offers potential strategies to mitigate these challenges.

Click here to access the resource document.

[1] Brugha T MS, Meltzer H, Smith J, Scott FJ, Purdon S, Harris J, Bankart J. Autism Spectrum Disorders in adults living in households throughout England: Report from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007. Information Centre for Health and Social Care; 2009. Retrieved from https://a4.org.au/sites/default/files/APMS_Autism_report_standard_20_OCT_09.pdf.

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