10-Year Follow-up of a Group of Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Giuseppe Maurizio Arduino, Chiara Rubino, Guido Leonti, Paola Isaia, Paolo Briatore, Elisabetta Gonella, Franco Fioretto, Giulia Sardiello, Nazarena Turco
Continuity of care and periodic monitoring of treatment represents important aspects in therapeutic and diagnostic processes in autism spectrum disorders. In particular, in the years preceding and accompanying the transition from adolescence to adulthood, it is important to factor in updated assessments in order to develop a life plan. This article describes a follow-up study carried out by the team of psychologists at the Autism and Asperger Syndrome Centre (CASA), ASL CN1, in the Mondovì-Cuneo district (Italy), involving 36 individuals aged 13 to 30 affected by autism spectrum disorders, who had been in their care for at least 10 years. The analysis focuses on the updated assessment using the ASRS and ABAS-II scales as well as feedback from the individual’s parents through a questionnaire about their perception of improvement/worsening of their child.
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Continuity of care, Adaptive behaviour, Follow-up.