Disclaimer: This summary is based off of research conducted by Autism Treatment Network members. It is not a summary of the entire body of research literature available on this subject.
Children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have worse family reported quality of life compared to children and teens without ASD. Poor quality of life is associated with ASD symptoms such as repetitive behaviors and anxiety[1]. Poorer quality of life in children with ASD is also associated with sleep problems [2] [3]. Similarly, quality of life can also be affected by mental health issues, constipation, and pain [3][4]. When doctors treat these behavioral and physical problems, quality of life may improve for patients with ASD[4],.