School-Going Autistic Children Experience High Levels of Anxiety

School-going children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience chronic stress and anxiety, researchers reveal. According to them, this occurrence can put these children at higher risks of suffering from severe mental health problems later in life.

Autism is a developmental disorder that leads to significant social, communication and behavioral changes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in 88 children in the United States is affected by autism. Autism normally starts by the age of three and is diagnosed by the age of five.

"A good number of children on the autistic spectrum are performing well at school, which makes it very difficult for teachers to spot the degree of anxiety they suffer, especially as many consciously hide it or try to find strategies to deal with it unsupported," Dr. Judith Hebron, a specialist in autism research, said in a news release. "Many children expend huge amounts of energy trying to appear 'normal', but this can lead to intolerable stress levels that may then result in outbursts which are easily mistaken for bad behaviour - especially when it affects other children or family life."

A team of researchers from The University of Manchester looked at 22 children with autism, 23 with dyslexia and 21 children who do not require any special education.

They found anxiety (59.1 percent), depression, self worth, anger and disruptive behavior more prevalent among autistic children compared to others. Concerned with the findings, experts urge parents and teachers to identify these issues early and to provide early intervention.

"This is a difficult problem to address as it is often hidden," Dr. Hebron said. "But as children experiencing chronic stress and anxiety are more likely to suffer from mental health problems in the future, it's vitally important we are aware of these issues and intervene early in order to minimise the risk."

Findings of the study will be published in the Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs.