Children Diagnosed With Autism Had Changes In Mental Health Disorders In Middle Childhood

Children with autism whose social-communication challenges intensified during middle childhood had more symptoms of anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and more disruptive behavior problems than other children. Children with autism whose restricted and repetitive behaviors lessened during middle childhood had more symptoms of anxiety than other children.

About 21.3% of the children whose social-communication symptoms increased in severity had elevated and increasing severity of mental health problems compared to children whose social-communication symptoms remained stable.

About 22.7% of those who had decreasing severity of their restrictive/repetitive behaviors had elevated and increasing levels . . .