Medical Care and Common Medical Comorbidities in ASD

Provision of medical care to adults with autism has been complicated for a host of reasons. These include issues of lack of research data, insufficient guidance on best practices and information on approaches to the person with ASD, problems with insurance, and others. The limited data available suggest potential increased risk for certain medical and mental health problems. Clearly, costs for good medical care are increased even at a time when insurance reimbursement is limited and education for individuals with ASD on getting quality care has been minimal. As a result of these problems, medical care is often delivered in emergency department settings, and the absence of primary care providers can mean that conditions are overlooked at a time when they are most treatable. Available data suggest increased rates of morbidity in the ASD population. In this chapter, we outline some of the current obstacles and directions for future research and clinical service.