Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
12:55
Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
8.9K
Transition to adulthood for neurodivergent youth
Bianca Chandler1, Samantha Mosoff2, Alexis Tchaconas3
1Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead.
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|December 9, 2025
Summary
Neurodivergent individuals face significant health challenges, especially during life transitions. Affirming care improves outcomes, highlighting the need for better clinician training and support systems.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Neurodivergence represents natural variations in human neurological functioning, affecting a substantial portion of the population.
- Existing healthcare systems often fail to adequately address the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals.
- The transition from pediatric to adult healthcare presents compounded challenges for neurodivergent youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To offer a comprehensive overview of neurodivergence and its lifelong challenges.
- To outline best practices for pediatricians caring for neurodivergent individuals.
- To support the successful transition of neurodivergent individuals into adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on neurodivergence and healthcare transitions.
- Analysis of factors contributing to health disparities in neurodivergent populations.
- Synthesis of best practices for pediatric care and adult system integration.
Main Results:
- Neurodivergent individuals experience poorer health outcomes in adulthood due to insufficient clinician training, loss of services, and planning gaps.
- Lack of tailored support during life transitions exacerbates health inequities.
- Neurodivergent-affirming care significantly enhances health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Specific lifelong challenges faced by neurodivergent youth are amplified during the transition to adult care systems.
- Addressing healthcare access, decision-making support, community integration, and long-term planning is crucial.
- Pediatricians play a vital role in advocating for and facilitating effective care transitions for neurodivergent individuals.
More Related Videos
09:01A Method for Investigating Age-related Differences in the Functional Connectivity of Cognitive Control Networks Associated with Dimensional Change Card Sort Performance
Published on: May 7, 2014
10.5K
06:34Author Spotlight: A Lightweight Drive Implant for Chronic Tetrode Recordings in Juvenile Mice
Published on: June 2, 2023
3.6K
Related Concept Videos
01:27Emerging Adulthood
577
Jeffrey Arnett's concept of emerging adulthood offers a framework to understand the unique developmental stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, generally from ages 18 to 25. This period is marked by extensive exploration and shifts in identity, relationships, and career choices, a process known in psychology as role experimentation. Emerging adulthood reflects the evolving cultural expectations surrounding adulthood and the dynamic process of personal transformation during...
577
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
463
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
463
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
749
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
749
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
905
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
905
01:17Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
1.0K
Erik Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development, "identity versus role confusion," is crucial during adolescence (ages 12 to 18). In this stage, adolescents face the developmental task of forging a distinct personal identity, a process influenced by social, psychological, and biological changes typical of this period. Adolescents naturally explore different roles, behaviors, and ideologies as they navigate complex questions of self-concept, asking, "Who am I?" and "What is my place in...
1.0K
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
263
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
263