Specialist clinics are needed to treat commonly co-occurring illnesses in autism.
That’s the view of biomedical charity Thinking Autism.
Matty Allman, who had problems with challenging behaviour in childhood until mum Joanne convinced medics to look at his underlying gut problems
The charity wants specialist hospitals to investigate illnesses such as epilepsy and gastrointestinal problems.
Research shows conditions such as epilepsy and gut problems are far more likely to occur in people with autism.
Thinking Autism says migraines and acid reflux, or heartburn, are also more common.
NHS autism training
Campaigning parent Paula McGowan has fought successfully for mandatory autism training for all NHS staff.
McGowan fought for the training after her 18-year-old son Oliver, who had autism and epilepsy, died in hospital. He suffered an allergic reaction to antipsychotic medication at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital in 2016.
The government is launching a pilot of the Oliver McGowan mandatory training early next year.
Training ‘won’t go far enough’
But Thinking Autism trustee Joanne Allman said while the mandatory training was a “good start” she is concerned it “won’t go far enough”.
Allman, from Formby in Merseyside, said her 19-year-old son Matty, who has autism, showed challenging behaviours in childhood until he was treated for severe constipation.
Specialist clinics the ‘best way forward’
She added that specialist clinics offering a range of medical expertise are the “best way forward” for treating comorbid health problems.
But McGowan has reservations about specialist clinics for people with autism, saying it veers away from inclusion.
McGowan, who lives between Bristol and New South Wales in Australia, added that “every doctor and nurse” should consider how problems such as epilepsy and gut complaints can impact on the health of people with autism.
‘Pigeonholing people’
She said that specialist hospitals would be “pigeonholing” people with autism “down a different path”.
And McGowan says she believes the government’s new training will take in comorbidities.
Related:
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- Study calls for interventions for adults
- Autism charity slams MP’s insults
- Charity slams Labour over neurodiversity
- Autism link to post-traumatic stress
- Regression linked to autoimmune issues
- Evidence grows for autism link to gut
Published: 11 November 2019
