Driving among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Over the past several decades there has been a surge of research on the contextual, biological, and psychological factors associated with transportation safety in adolescence. However, we know much less about the factors contributing to transportation safety among adolescents who do not follow a typical developmental trajectory. Adolescents with developmental disabilities (DD) such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a wide range of behavioral and psychological deficits that may make the complex task of driving even more challenging. Because these adolescents often retain characteristic symptoms of their disorder into adulthood, it may impede their ability to achieve important milestones during the developmental transition from adolescent to adult. As the motivating force behind autonomous living and employment, the capacity for independent transportation is paramount to an adolescent’s overall success. This critical review will draw from the current body of literature on adolescent drivers with developmental disabilities to determine (1) areas of impairment; (2) safety risk factors; and (3) effective interventions for improving driving safety in this vulnerable population of adolescent drivers between the ages of 15–22. This review will also identify important unanswered research questions, and summarize the current state of the literature.

A Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults: A Pilot Study

“…4 In addition, autistic individuals report comorbid anxiety and fear to drive as a common reason for not driving. 13 Overall, *40%-60% of autistic individuals experience anxiety or have an anxiety-related disorder. 14,15 Such anxiety often manifests behind the wheel.…”

“…14,15 Such anxiety often manifests behind the wheel. 13 For example, one study found that autistic individuals reported high driving anxiety and commonly requested a companion in the car while driving even after obtaining a driver's license. 16 Additionally, autistic drivers reported not driving for vocational or social purposes.…”

Localization and Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Studies on medical imaging data have gained great popularity with the rapid development of various neuro-imaging technologies. Existing imaging technologies include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), diffusion tensor imaging and positron emission tomography (PET) [ 1 , 2 ]. Large amounts of data from different imaging technologies urgently need to be analyzed.…”

A study of the association between cognitive abilities and dietary intake in young women

“…Cognitive ability (i.e. executive function, processing speed, verbal learning and memory, and attention) is essential for functioning in daily life, and is involved in making intricate decisions (Bishop et al, 2018). Cognitive decline comprises reduced concentration and attention, poor learning, and memory impairment that negatively affects the quality of life of individuals and their families (Richards and Deary, 2005; Batty et al, 2007).…”