Autism Spectrum Disorder in Caregivers

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? NE
Is it more common among caregivers? Caregiving doesn't cause autism; autistic caregivers may have distinct support needs
Are caregivers at higher risk? No causal association
How much higher is the risk? NE
How often can it be missed? High when difficulties are attributed entirely to caregiver stress
Does it show up differently among caregivers? Contextually
How might it look different? Sensory overload, need for routine, administrative burden and communication demands may make caregiving particularly demanding
What commonly occurs alongside it? ADHD; anxiety; depression
What can it be confused with? Caregiver burnout; ADHD; anxiety
Common screening tool AQ-10
Separate screening tool for caregivers None
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