Physical health needs and self-reported health status among adults with autism

Self-reported health can be a powerful measure of how adults with autism spectrum disorder view their overall health. The goal of this study was to determine how health statuses of adults with autism spectrum disorder change, when they are currently receiving or need more physical health services. The Pennsylvania autism needs assessment included a survey of individuals with autism aged 18 years or older responding for themselves. They indicated whether their health status changed over the previous year as improved, decreased, or remained stable. We found that most adults with autism spectrum disorder had their health remain the same (68%). We also found that adults who said their health got worse needed more physical health services, compared to those whose health remained stable, or got better. Supporting the health of adults with autism can be complex and finding out more about how physical health services play a role in that care is important.