Autism Spectrum Disorder Experience Research Articles

The Gut-Brain Connection: Investigating the Correlation between Autism Disorder and Gut Bacterium

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a type of developmental disability which results in social and communication difficulties besides exhibiting stereotyped or repetitive use of objects and bodies. ASD is becoming increasingly prevalent as a significant public health issue, impacting 1 in 100 children globally and showing an apparent increase in cases internationally. Up to 80% of children with ASD experience gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction, indicating a potential connection between gut microbiota and the development of ASD. This study aims to define the link between gut dysbiosis and ASD and look into the effectiveness of the therapies which use the microbiota, including probiotics, prebiotics, and MTT. A literature review was carried out to identify literature published on Scopus, MEDLINE, and PubMed that focused on paediatric population, and the types of interventions included dietary changes and FMT. Growing evidence for the changed gut microbiota of children with ASD reveals the higher level of Clostridium and the lower level of Bifidobacterium population. Supplements of other types of microbes such as probiotics had mixed outcomes in impacting ASD behaviours but positively impacted the gastrointestinal manifestations. The research identifies changes in the gut bacterial makeup of children with ASD, showing increased levels of Clostridium and Sutterella, which play a significant role in gastrointestinal and behavioral issues. Therapies aimed at the microbiota, such as probiotics and dietary changes, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) demonstrated the ability to enhance symptoms associated with GI issues and ASD.

Sensory processing and social participation in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder experience various challenges, in which difficulties in social participation represent a significant area of concern. Research studies indicate that autistic children who experience more challenges in sensory processing tend to demonstrate lower social competence. Therefore, a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence exploring the link between sensory processing and social participation is needed to develop targeted interventions and support strategies to enhance social functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder. Objective: This systematic review aimed to investigate the impact of sensory processing on social participation in children with ASD aged 3-18 years. Materials and methods: The review involved a comprehensive search across electronic databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and OTseeker. The McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included articles. Results: A total of 4,158 records were identified through database searches and manual searches. Following the title and abstract review, 10 studies were selected for the full-text review, which led to the inclusion of 8 studies in the systematic review that met the predefined criteria. Among the 8 studies, 7 studies reported a significant correlation between sensory processing and social participation in children with ASD. Specifically, sensory over-responsivity, under-responsivity, and seeking behaviors were found to influence the child’s ability to comprehend, interpret, and respond to social cues effectively, thereby increasing the social challenges commonly associated with ASD. Conclusion: This systematic review underscores the evident impact of sensory processing difficulties on social participation among children with ASD. It highlights the critical role of sensory processing in facilitating successful social functioning across diverse contexts and emphasizes its importance in enhancing overall social well-being in children with ASD.

Depression and psychological help-seeking attitude among Turkish mothers of children with autism: problem-focused coping as a mediator

ABSTRACT Studies demonstrate that mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience depression and are less likely to seek professional psychological help. This study examined the roles of coping strategies in predicting psychological help-seeking attitudes among mothers of children with ASD. A total of 250 Turkish mothers of children with autism were recruited using purposive sampling during their training at the autism center in Istanbul. The results showed that depression was positively associated with problem-focused coping and negatively associated with psychological help-seeking attitudes. Psychological help-seeking attitudes and problem-focused coping were positively correlated with avoidant coping. Mediation analysis demonstrated that problem-solving plays a mediating role in the relationship between depression and psychological help-seeking attitudes. When addressing the psychological help-seeking attitudes of mothers of children with autism, future prevention and intervention programs may have to take into account mothers’ depressive symptoms, and how they view and cope with depression and challenges related to parenting their child with autism.

Personalized interactive urban maps for autism: an innovative approach involving persons with Level 1 autism spectrum disorder to user-centered design

PurposeBecause of social interaction difficulties, cognitive characteristics and sensory sensitivity, people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may struggle with independence and active participation in urban contexts. Through understanding how people with ASDs experience and perceive urban spaces, the Personalized Interactive Urban Maps for Autism (PIUMA) project’s purpose is to create a useful platform to support persons with ASD in their movements in the city, helping them in managing their daily lives, promoting their autonomy and active participation in urban contexts, taking in to account their direct point of view. This paper aim to present a user-centered approach involving autistic people.Design/methodology/approachThe authors involved researchers with different backgrounds applying mixed research techniques such as semi-structured qualitative interviews, participatory design, exploiting user-adapted systems techniques, human–computer interaction techniques and interviews. The authors involved people with autism (PWA) from the beginning of the project to gain user requirements, as well as to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of our solution in the final stage. In specific phases of the project, the authors involved a group of parents of PWA and a group of neurotypical individuals as a control group.FindingsThe authors collected various data and created an App taking into account PWA needs, suggestions and points of view.Research limitations/implicationsChoosing different methodologies to allow participants to express their point of view, their needs and suggestions, the authors limited the quantitative data collected. The male-to-female ratio in the study, along with the sample size and participants’ age, can also be considered limitations.Practical implicationsThe authors collected information about how autistic people move in urban contexts, represent the space of their cities, move independently and use technological devices. The data the author collected also provides suggestions about how to improve computer systems designed for them.Social implicationsThe results suggest how to improve computer systems designed for autistic people and how to encourage their full participation in community life according to their cognitive and sensory characteristics.Originality/valueThe PIUMA project takes into account the direct input of PWA in all the different stages from conception and design to deployment of the device in a human-centered design approach.

Graduates with High-Functioning Autism: Perceptions of Academic and Labor Market Adjustment

This study explores the perceptions of academic and labor market adaptation among graduates with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in comparison to neurotypical counterparts. Contrary to the expected significant differences attributed to the unique challenges associated with ASD, the findings did not indicate major disparities in perceptions of adaptation to both academic settings and labor market entry. The investigation encompassed 134 participants, divided between individuals diagnosed with high-functioning ASD and a control group from the general population, employing self-administered questionnaires to evaluate adaptability perceptions. The absence of anticipated differences suggests that the existing supports within educational and employment contexts may be effectively facilitating the transition for graduates with ASD. The study highlights the importance of inclusive career guidance and job placement services, demonstrating a positive correlation between academic adaptation and labor market preparedness. These results challenge pre-existing notions regarding the ASD experience during critical transitions from higher education to employment, advocating for enhanced policies and practices that accommodate the diverse needs of all graduates.

Atypical pupil-linked arousal induced by low-risk probabilistic choices, and intolerance of uncertainty in adults with ASD.

Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience stress when operating in a probabilistic environment, even if it is familiar, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Their decision-making may be affected by the uncertainty aversion implicated in ASD and associated with increased autonomic arousal. Previous studies have shown that in neurotypical (NT) people, decisions with predictably better outcomes are less stressful and elicit smaller pupil-linked arousal than those involving exploration. Here, in a sample of 46 high-functioning ASD and NT participants, using mixed-effects model analysis, we explored pupil-linked arousal and behavioral performance in a probabilistic reward learning task with a stable advantage of one choice option over the other. We found that subjects with ASD learned and preferred advantageous probabilistic choices at the same rate and to the same extent as NT participants, both in terms of choice ratio and response time. Although both groups exhibited similar predictive behaviors, learning to favor advantageous choices led to increased pupillary arousal for these choices in the ASD group, while it caused a decrease in pupillary arousal in the NT group. Moreover, greater pupil-linked arousal during decisionswithhigherexpected value correlated with greater degree of self-reported intolerance of uncertainty in everyday life. Our results suggest that in a nonvolatile probabilistic environment, objectively good predictive abilities in people with ASD are coupled with elevated physiological stress and subjective uncertainty regarding the decisions with the best possible but still uncertain outcome that contributes to their intolerance of uncertainty.

High‐dose propranolol decreases aggression in young people with autism

As many as two‐thirds of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience challenging symptoms of irritability, including aggression and self‐injury. The antipsychotics risperidone and aripiprazole are approved for the treatment of irritability associated with ASD; however, their adverse effects can compromise long‐term use in many patients. Based on longstanding case reports showing promising results for the beta‐blocker propranolol in reducing challenging symptoms in ASD, investigators conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover trial to evaluate the feasibility of high‐dose propranolol for treating aggression in patients with ASD. The investigators recruited youths and young adults aged 12 to 30 with ASD and a history of severe and chronic aggression, self‐injury, and disruptive behaviors that interfere with daily activities. Participants were required to have had an inadequate trial of at least two psychotropic medications, including at least one antipsychotic. Dosing of propranolol started at 10 mg three times a day and could be increased until adequate therapeutic response was achieved, to a maximum dose of 200 mg three times a day. Most study visits were conducted via telehealth in order to minimize patient schedule disruption. The primary outcomes were change in scores on the Clinical Global Impression‐Improvement (CGI‐I) and Aberrant Behavior Checklist‐Community (ABC‐C) scales from baseline to study endpoint. Six participants with a mean age of 16 years were enrolled. The investigators found that propranolol resulted in mean reductions of 50% in scores on the CGI‐I and 37% in scores on the ABC‐C. Effect sizes were large for both measures: –0.74 for the CGI‐I and –0.64 for the ABC‐C. “As this was a feasibility pilot study, we had a small sample that limits the generalization of our results to a wider population, and therefore, until a placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study with an adequate number of subjects is conducted, the clinical value of this report is limited,” the study's authors wrote. [London, E., et al. (2024). J Clin Psychopharmacol. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000001895]

A Neurobiologia do Sono: A Importância do Sono no Desenvolvimento de Crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista

This article examines the neurobiological aspects of sleep in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on a thorough literature review from PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases. Studies show that children with ASD experience more frequent and severe sleep disorders than their neurotypical peers, facing difficulties in falling asleep, maintaining sleep, and achieving restful sleep. As sleep is essential for neurological development and overall health, disturbances in this process significantly impact behavioral and cognitive skills. This paper reviews the neurobiological mechanisms underlying sleep disorders, including neurochemical and neuroanatomical aspects, as well as the consequences of disrupted sleep on development. It concludes that individualized interventions and interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for continuous improvement in quality of life and development in children with autism.

A "Whole Child Approach": Parent Experiences with Acute Care Hospitalizations for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behavioral Health Needs.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience increased hospitalizations as compared to the general population, particularly in the context of mental health crises. Given the unique needs of children with ASD and behavioral health needs that can either lead to or emerge during hospitalization, an understanding of hospital experiences is critical. To date, research on caregiver experiences in acute care medical hospital settings is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate caregiver experiences with inpatient care for children with ASD and behavioral health needs, including factors and practices that impacted or were desirable for care. Two focus groups were conducted with a total of 12 parents of children with ASD admitted to a large pediatric hospital. Data were analyzed using interpretive description. Emerging themes pointed to the child, family, and staff factors and practices that intersect to influence hospitalization experiences. Child factors included the child's communication, sensory, behavioral, medical, and safety needs. Family factors included the family's relationship with the healthcare team, own needs, and advocacy experiences. Staff factors included staff communication practices, comfort, and knowledge when providing care. Overall, this research demonstrates the complexity of factors and practices that impact the behavioral health hospitalization experience for children with ASD and their caregivers. Experiences varied widely and were guided by the unique needs of each child. Findings point to care practices that can be adopted to best meet the needs of all stakeholders during hospitalization and offer implications for future educational initiatives.

Perceived Mental Health and Quality of Life in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Armed Forces in a Tertiary Care Center of North India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: To explore the impact on mental health and quality of life among mothers following the diagnosis of mild or moderate autism in their child.Methods: The study included 100 consecutive mothers with a defence background, each having a child aged 3 to 10 years diagnosed with mild to moderate autism. Participants were briefed about the study, and informed consent was obtained. A quantitative experimental design was employed, utilising the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Scale-Brief (WHOQOL-Brief) to assess the mothers.Results: The results indicated that mothers experienced moderate levels of anxiety (mean±standard deviation, 10±6.4) and stress (19±6.7), but lower levels of depression (11±7.7), as measured by the DASS-21 questionnaire. The WHOQOL-Brief revealed a moderate decline in psychological health (transformative [T]-score=38) and social relationships (T-score=31). However, satisfaction with their environment (T-score=75) and physical health (T-score=63) was higher, potentially due to their defence background, which may provide easier access to healthcare and improved living conditions.Conclusion: Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder experience moderate levels of stress and anxiety, and low levels of depression. Additionally, they face a decline in their quality of life.

The Association Between Parenting Stress and Parenting Behaviors in Chinese Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Mediating Role of Parental Anxiety and Depression

ABSTRACT Background Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) experience heightened levels of parenting stress and more affective symptoms. Although the relationship between parenting stress and mental health has been extensively studied, limited understanding exists regarding parenting behaviors and related factors. This study aimed to explore the role of parents’ affective symptoms in the relationship between parenting stress and parenting behaviors among Chinese parents of children with ASD. Methods A total of 185 parents participated in one online survey, reporting parenting behaviors, parenting stress, depression and anxiety symptoms. Results (1) A higher level of parenting stress was associated with reduced positive parenting behaviors and increased negative parenting behaviors. (2). Parents’ anxiety and depression symptoms mediated the relationship between parenting stress and positive parenting behaviors. Conclusion Parenting stress has potential detrimental effects on parenting behaviors in Chinese parents of children with ASD through the mediation of parental depression and anxiety.

Addressing Sensory Challenges in Athletes with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Clinical Commentary.

Athletes with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience lesser care for injuries and athletic trainers (ATs) report feeling unprepared to provide care competently for this population. Provision of sports-related care can be impacted by sensory differences associated with ASD such as hyper-reactivity to sensation or poor integration of sensory information. An in-depth review of the literature using the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) guidelines was used to identify articles that address the sensory features of autism for athletic trainers with the purpose of informing athletic trainers about the sensory features of ASD and to present the most current evidence-based recommendations for providing care to athletes with ASD and other neurodivergent individuals who present with sensory differences. Relevant articles were reviewed by four independent researchers and organized by theme. Key themes included use of sensory friendly or adapted environments, sensory kits, and informed communication strategies that acknowledge sensory differences. Providing individualized care for athletes with ASD and sensory features can improve the quality of and participation in sports for autistic persons.

Speech sound error patterns may signal language disorder in Swedish preschool children with autism.

Within cohorts of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) there is considerable variation in terms of language ability. In the past, it was believed that children with ASD either had delayed articulation and phonology skills or excelled in those areas compared to other language domains. Very little is known about speech sound ability in relation to language ability and non-verbal ability in Swedish preschool children with ASD. The current study aimed to describe language variation in a group of 4-6-year-old children with ASD, focusing on in-depth analyses of speech sound error patterns with and without non-phonological language disorder and concomitant non-verbal delays. We examined and analysed the speech sound skills (including consonant inventory, percentage of correct consonants and speech sound error patterns) in relation to receptive language skills in a sample of preschool children who had screened positive for ASD in a population-based screening at 2.5 years of age. Seventy-three children diagnosed with ASD participated and were divided into subgroups based on their receptive language (i.e., non-phonological language) and non-verbal abilities. The subgroup division revealed that 29 children (40%) had language delay/disorder without concurrent non-verbal general cognitive delay (ALD), 27 children (37%) had language delay/disorder with non-verbal general cognitive delay (AGD), and 17 children (23%) had language and non-verbal abilities within the normal range (ALN). Results revealed that children with ALD and children with AGD both had atypical speech sound error patterns significantly more often than the children with ALN. This study showed that many children who had screened positive for ASD before age 3 years - with or without non-verbal general cognitive delays - had deficits in language as well as in speech sound ability. However, individual differences were considerable. Our results point to speech sound error patterns as a potential clinical marker for language problems (disorder/delay) in preschool children with ASD. What is already known on the subject Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have deficits in social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviour. They show very considerable variation in both receptive and expressive language abilities. Previously, articulation and phonology were viewed as either delayed in children with ASD or superior compared with other (non-phonological) language domains. What this paper adds to existing knowledge Children with ASD and language disorders also have problems with speech sound error patterns. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? About 75% of children with ASD experience language delays/disorders, as well as speech sound problems, related to speech sound error patterns. Understanding/acknowledging these phonological patterns and their implications can help in the diagnosis and intervention of speech sound disorders in children with ASD. Direct intervention targeting phonology might lead to language gains, but more research is needed.

ASD-similar social behaviour scores affect stimulus generalization in family dogs

Generalization, the tendency to respond in the same way to different but similar stimuli, is one of the main cognitive abilities that make category formation possible and thus is a prerequisite for efficiency in learning. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience pervasive difficulty with producing generalized responses across materials, people, places, and contexts. Increasing evidence suggests that “ASD-like” social impairments appear endogenously and spontaneously in family dogs providing a high-validity model for understanding the phenotypic expression of human ASD. The present study aims to further investigate the dog model of ASD by the approach of searching for analogues in dogs showing “ASD-like” social impairments of cognitive phenomena in humans specific to ASD, specifically impairments of generalization abilities. We have tested 18 family dogs with formerly established “ASD-like” behaviour scores (F1, F2, F3) in a generalization task involving three conditions (size, colour and texture). We found a significant association between F1 scores and test performance as well as improvement during testing sessions. Our study provides further support for the notion that dogs with lower social competence—similarly to humans with ASD—exhibit attentional and perceptual abnormalities, such as being sensitive to minor changes to a non-adaptive extent.

Atypical neural encoding of faces in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience pervasive difficulties in processing social information from faces. However, the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying social trait judgments of faces in ASD remain largely unclear. Here, we comprehensively addressed this question by employing functional neuroimaging and parametrically generated faces that vary in facial trustworthiness and dominance. Behaviorally, participants with ASD exhibited reduced specificity but increased inter-rater variability in social trait judgments. Neurally, participants with ASD showed hypo-activation across broad face-processing areas. Multivariate analysis based on trial-by-trial face responses could discriminate participant groups in the majority of the face-processing areas. Encoding social traits in ASD engaged vastly different face-processing areas compared to controls, and encoding different social traits engaged different brain areas. Interestingly, the idiosyncratic brain areas encoding social traits in ASD were still flexible and context-dependent, similar to neurotypicals. Additionally, participants with ASD also showed an altered encoding of facial saliency features in the eyes and mouth. Together, our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social trait judgments in ASD.

Long-Term Outcomes after Behavior-Analytic Intervention for Pediatric Feeding Disorders

Many children with autism spectrum disorder experience feeding difficulties that can lead to increased health risks (e.g., severe nutrition deficiencies, obesity-related illnesses) if left untreated. Intensive feeding programs that use behavior-analytic interventions have reported positive outcomes for treating challenging behavior associated with pediatric feeding disorders at discharge and up to 1 year post discharge. Whether these children achieve and maintain long-term goals is unknown. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate outcomes of behavior-analytic intervention for pediatric feeding disorders among children with and without autism spectrum disorder in an intensive feeding program post discharge. Caregivers of former patients reported on the positive and negative impact of the program and their child’s growth and diet variety at follow-up. 85% of caregivers reported the program had a positive impact. Increases in height-for-age z scores were significant from admission to discharge from the intensive program, and progress in growth and diet variety remained the same or improved for most children at follow-up. Results suggest that behavior-analytic intervention in an intensive feeding program produced positive short- and long-term outcomes for children and their families.

Effects of smart watch‐delivered text messaging on social initiations of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

AbstractChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience challenges with social skills when interacting with peers, which can affect their ability to form friendships and participate in inclusive settings. This study evaluated text messaging prompts and prompt fading delivered by a smart watch to increase social initiations of three adolescent students with ASD and their peers without ASD. We used a single‐case, multiple probe across participants design to assess participants' level of and type of independent and prompted appropriate social initiations without and with the intervention. Textual prompts substantially increased each participant's social initiations compared to baseline. Two participants remained reliant on textual prompts to make initiations, whereas the third was less reliant on prompts and continued to make independent initiations after prompts were completely faded. Participants' social skills gains maintained up to 3 weeks following intervention and participants and parents reported agreement with the goals, procedures, and outcomes of the strategy.

The Acquisition of Jordanian Arabic Plural Morphology by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Aim. This study investigates the acquisition of plural morphology by native Jordanian children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The primary objective of the study is to assess children’s capacity to use plural morphology in Jordanian Arabic, aiming to identify the most frequently utilized form of the plural and the reasons behind its prevalence. 
 Methods. The study involved a sample of 10 male and female children with ASD, averaging twelve years old, from Tawasul Center for Autism in Amman, Jordan. Utilizing twenty representative pictures featuring familiar plural items such as chairs, televisions, and children, the participants were tasked with identifying the depicted elements. 
 Results. The findings indicated that the children faced challenges in employing plurals in Arabic, with the feminine morpheme being the most consistently used. However, instances of overgeneralization in the use of the feminine morpheme were noted, leading to inaccuracies. Moreover, children avoided plural forms in several cases and resorted to singular forms paired with words that indicate duality or plurality.
 Conclusion. The research results indicate that, by the age of 12, individuals with ASD experience challenges in acquiring proficiency in plural forms in Jordanian Arabic. The study underscores the difficulties these individuals encounter in understanding linguistic elements related to plurality within the specific linguistic context. It also demonstrates that comprehending the complexities of how autistic children acquire plural morphemes is not solely an academic interest; it holds practical significance for designing interventions to enhance their language proficiency and improve overall communication skills.

Psychosocial adjustment in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder comorbidities

BackgroundMothers raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience more stress than those raising typically developing children or children with other disorders. The stress experienced by mothers raising children with ASD comorbid with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as intellectual disability (ID) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been adequately studied. This study aimed to examine differences in psychological and social adjustment among mothers of children with ASD, ASD/ID, ASD/ADHD, ASD/ID/ADHD, and other disorders in Japan. MethodSix hundred and one mothers (pooled mean age, 44.77 years) parenting children with disorders participated in this study. Participants responded to a questionnaire consisting of the six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) to capture psychological distress, the Subjective Happiness Scale to capture subjective well-being, and the Japanese version of the Lubben Social Networks Scale (LSNS-6) to capture social isolation. ResultsMothers of children with ASD had marginally higher K6 scores than did mothers of children with other disorders. Mothers of children with ASD/ID/ADHD had lower LSNS-6 scores than did mothers of children with ASD. Mothers raising children with ASD/ADHD and ASD/ID/ADHD were more likely to have clinical problems with psychological and social adjustment than were mothers of children with other disorders. ConclusionsMothers of children with ASD/ADHD or ASD/ID/ADHD may have significant problems with psychosocial adjustment. Such mothers may need support at the time of the child’s diagnosis. A support system for mothers of children with ASD is urgently required in Japan.

Helping college students with autism spectrum disorder: Exploring factors affecting use of counselling

AbstractIntroductionIndividuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience mental health concerns at a higher prevalence rate than the general population, yet mental health professionals have limited education, training and experience in counselling individuals with ASD.MethodsTo better understand the unique mental health concerns this population encounters, this qualitative study explored the experiences of 102 college students with ASD as they considered, attended and stopped counselling.ResultsSpecifically, this study investigated the motives the participants reported for attending counselling, the reasons professionals indicated that the participants should attend counselling, the barriers the participants were confronted with in seeking counselling and the causes for terminating counselling.ConclusionBased on these findings, implications for counselling this population and future research are provided.