Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often missed in teenagers. A study of 16-year-olds in New Jersey showed that “one in four study-confirmed individuals with ASD did not have an ASD diagnosis.”
The incidence of ASD was one in 55 males and one in 172 females. ASD was more common in Whites than Hispanics and in teens from higher socio-economic groups than lower ones.
Interestingly, 58% of the teens with ASD had co-occurring neuropsychiatric disorders. Examples of such disorders include ADHD, seizure disorders, cognitive deficits, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, and many more.
The data and quote in this blog are from an article in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders by Zahorodny and colleagues on August 29, 2023.
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
