The medical and health issues of older youth and adults on the autism spectrum is an area which has not been adequately addressed in the professional literature. Research about children who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD) suggests some medical conditions (e.g., gastrointestinal complaints) are more prevalent than in the general population. It can be assumed many of these medical conditions continue into adulthood. Similarly, there are health issues that typically present in adulthood in the general population that we would also expect to occur in those on the autism spectrum. However, little has been done to determine the prevalence or severity of health issues in adults with ASD.
