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One-third of teens with autism acquire driver's license, closely following eligibility
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Although only one-third of teenagers with autism spectrum disorder acquire an intermediate driver’s license, 90% of those who did acquired their license within 2 years of becoming eligible for their learner’s permit; this time line indicates that teenagers with autism and their families may be making decisions about driving before obtaining a permit rather than during the learning process.
“For teens on the autism spectrum, the decision to pursue a driver’s license is one of several milestones that other families might take for granted. Independent means of transportation contributes to other long-term opportunities, such as post-high school education or employment and being socially involved and connected within their community,” Benjamin Yerys, PhD, from the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a press release. “ASD can affect decision-making, information processing and attention to varying degrees, and we need to understand what resources, specialized instruction, and other supports might be helpful for teens and adults with ASD who are considering or preparing to drive.”
To compare the number of teenagers who receive both a learner’s permit and driver’s license, researchers directed a retrospective cohort study of teenagers born between 1987 and 1995 in New Jersey with (n = 609) and without ASD (n = 51,563).
Additionally, the researchers analyzed the time it took for these adolescents, who were patients of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia health care network, to work through the licensing system. The researchers then connected electronic health records to the state’s driver licensing database to collect data on adolescent licensing.
According to study results, 34% of teenagers with ASD obtained their driver’s license, compared with 83.5% of teens who did not have ASD; on average, the licensure process took 9.2 months longer for those with ASD.
“Our results indicate that a substantial proportion of teenagers with ASD do get licensed, and support is needed to help families make the decision whether or not to drive before these adolescents become eligible for a learner’s permit,” Allison E. Curry, PhD, MPH, from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP, said in a press release.
Researchers also observed that 82% of teenagers with ASD who acquired a learner’s permit went on to acquire their license within 1 year vs. 94% of teenagers without ASD. In addition, 89.7% of teenagers with ASD progressed from a learner’s permit to an intermediate license within 2 years compared with nearly 98% of teenagers without ASD.
Given the comparable rates with which teenagers with ASD and those without ASD are obtaining driver’s licenses, the researchers noted that families were mostly successful in evaluating their child’s ability to drive safely before receiving their learner’s permit.
“Our best advice to parents and caregivers of teens with ASD who are considering driving is to schedule a doctor’s appointment to address any concerns, such as attention issues,” researcher Patty Huang, MD, developmental and behavioral pediatrician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said in a press release. “Parents may also want to seek the advice of an occupational therapist who specializes in driving or a driving educator who has training in working with individuals with special needs.” — by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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