Educational Attainment, Employment Status and Personal Autonomy of Young Adults with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments of personal, social, academic or occupational functioning.

Objective: To access the educational attainment, employment status and personal autonomy among adolescents aged 17-20 years followed in the neurodevelopment clinic of a tertiary hospital.

Methods: A telephonic survey was elaborated and conducted to assess educational level, employment status, professional internship enrolment, parental sensation of personal autonomy and other features like getting a bank account or a driving licence. Patients born in 1999 and 2000 followed in our centre from 2009 to 2018 were included. Clinical information comprising diagnosis, comorbidities and age at the first and the last appointments were retrieved from personal records.

Results: Fifty-two of 83 eligible patients (63%) responded to the survey; 69% were boys. The results were analysed by three major diagnosis groups i.e. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (n=10), Intellectual Disability (ID) (n=13) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (n=21). Concerning educational attainment, the majority were attending high school or higher levels of education (ASD 100%, ID 54% and ADHD 76%). Regarding employment the majority were enrolled in a professional internship or were employed (ASD 40%, ID 46% and ADHD 52%), while the rest were living at home under parental care or attending occupational centre activities. Parental sensation of personal autonomy was achieved in 60% of ASD, 54% of ID and 100% of ADHD patients. The number of adolescents obtaining a driving licence (ASD 40%, ID 15% and ADHD 85%) and owning/managing a bank account (ASD 40%/0%, ID 38%/15% and ADHD 90%/40%) were heterogenous among the groups.

Conclusion: Educational levels, employment possibilities and personal autonomy have been increasing among patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, however, vary significantly and depend on disorder itself and its severity. A better guidance is needed to support these adolescents in the transition to adulthood.