Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a collection of neurodevelopmental disabilities, defined by the presence of social, behavioral and communication deficits, that are typically recognized during the first three years of life. Autism has emerged as a significant public health concern, yet there are no answers to its increasing rates. Recent data from the Autism and Developmental Disability Monitoring (ADDM) Network reported that 1 in every 36 (2.8 %) 8-year-old children were found to have autism in 2020. The current research attempts to identify the major challenges around autism care across the US such as: Inconsistent diagnosis and referral leading to delayed start of service, unequal availability of trained licensed Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapist, Inconsistent implementation of ABA interventions at various settings, Lack of support, education services and vocational opportunities for children transitioning into adulthood. This article also proposes and discusses possible strategies for mitigating those challenges.
Keyphrases
- autism spectrum disorder
- healthcare
- intellectual disability
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- public health
- primary care
- mental health
- quality improvement
- transcription factor
- young adults
- traumatic brain injury
- multiple sclerosis
- physical activity
- big data
- depressive symptoms
- palliative care
- electronic health record
- resistance training
- affordable care act
- early life
- chronic pain
- data analysis
- congenital heart disease