Over the years, since Leo Kanner’s account of 11 children with autism (1943) and its posterior account of their outcome (1971), researchers have devoted their attention to the outcome of adults with autism.
In a review of the literature analysing data from 1900 to nowadays (1) the authors tried to find the different criteria used across time to measure life outcome in adults with autism and the results obtained by these.
Overall, the outcome depended on the degree of intellectual impairment of the individual – individuals with average IQ had better outcome than individuals with lower than average IQ; and the definition and scope of “outcome” – evaluations taking into consideration the relationship between the person and the surrounding environment demonstrated better outcome.
One of the criteria to measure life outcome in adults with autism is the ability to be independent.
In general, the results demonstrate that adults with autism who have intellectual impairments have a poor to very poor outcome: most of them live with their parents or in some kind of supported living arrangement; only a few are independently employed; and less than half have significant friendships.
However, the results are more optimistic for those individuals with autism who do not have intellectual impairments. Most of them are independently employed and are involved in social activities but most of them still live with their parents.
Although results seem not very optimistic for individuals with autism with low IQ the authors of the review point out the benefits of intensive early interventions that are more common nowadays. These interventions may result in a more positive outcome in adulthood and children who benefited from these therapies are just now entering adulthood. Therefore, the long-term effects of these interventions are yet to be determined.
Andreia on Autism 