Outcome in Adult Life for more Able Individuals with Autism or Asperger Syndrome
Abstract
The paper reviews what is known about outcome in adult life for more able individuals within the autistic spectrum. Because of the problems associated with differential diagnosis, the results of studies involving high-functioning people with autism and Asperger syndrome are combined. The review focuses predominantly on long-term follow-up research and covers outcome in terms of cognitive, linguistic, academic and adaptive functioning; educational and employment history; independence and social relationships; and behavioural and psychiatric problems. The stability of IQ and other measures over time, and variables related to outcome, are also investigated.
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The empirical literature associates autism with poor outcomes and low wellbeing.
“On the face of it, this may seem supported by the empirical literature, in which autism is associated with poor outcomes (Howlin, 2000) and low wellbeing (Renty & Roeyers, 2006).”
From Neurodiversity, epistemic injustice, and the good human life (2022) · cites this paper as Howlin, 2000
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“According to the neurodiversity paradigm, responding to these facts does not require us to ‘change autistic people’ but rather to challenge the societal factors that influence these outcomes (Howlin, 2000; Howlin & Magiati, 2017; see Mandy et al., 2016, for an example).”
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“Despite this lack of evidence, it is commonly hypothesised that people with ASD will be over-represented among offenders in general and among prisoners.(143,149) In fact, although there is evidence that people with ASD are over-represented among high-security psychiatric settings, it is not at all clear whether or not…”
Background
- Authors
- Howlin, P.
- Affiliations
- St George's, University of London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Howlin, Patricia
- ORCID
- Howlin, Patricia
- Venue
- Autism
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2000-03
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 63-83
- ISSN
- 1362-3613 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7005
- OpenAlex
- W2116132409
- Cited by
- 454
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 2.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Autism (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
- Keywords
- Asperger syndrome, high-functioning autism, adult outcomes, long-term follow-up, IQ stability, adaptive behavior, educational attainment, employment, independence, interpersonal relationships, behavioral problems, mental illness, differential diagnosis
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