The life expectancy for Level 2 ASD ranges from 50-60 years old. This is slightly lower than Level 1 and the national average. In some studies, the life expectancy is even lower.
It is an undeniable and sad fact that individuals with autism suffer much poorer health and shorter lifespan than their peers without autism. Multiple studies have shown this including one published in 2018, an important investigation of over 27,000 Swedish people diagnosed with ASD which revealed that the average life expectancy among the people studied with severe autism is 39.5 years, rising to only 58 years for those with high-functioning autism, or Asperger syndrome.
A March 2016 study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry documented that adults with an autism spectrum disorder who have a learning disability are 40 times more likely to have a lower average lifespan due to a neurological condition than adults in the general population who are not on the spectrum and have no learning disabilities.
Furthermore, the study found out that adults with autism who do not have a learning disability were up to nine times more likely to die by suicide than adults at similar ages who did not have autism.
In this study, people with autism spectrum disorder tended to die at age 54, which is 16 years sooner than the average age of mortality. Adults who have both autism and one or more learning disabilities died almost 30 years sooner than people who had neither, at an average age of 39.5 years old. Those with autism, but no learning disability, died at an average age of 58.
The rates tend to be higher among girls with autism and people with milder forms of disorder.
Additionally, the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders writes that many people on the spectrum (children and adolescents primarily, but also adults) are victimized by bullying, sometimes on a daily basis. This often leads to the development of anxiety conditions and depressive disorders.
Those conditions, on their own, are leading factors in suicidal ideation and behavior. When combined with some of the challenges of living with autism, it significantly increases the risk factors for people with autism spectrum disorder.
It is an undeniable and sad fact that individuals with autism suffer much poorer health and shorter lifespan than their peers without autism. Multiple studies have shown this including one published in 2018, an important investigation of over 27,000 Swedish people diagnosed with ASD which revealed that the average life expectancy among the people studied with severe autism is 39.5 years, rising to only 58 years for those with high-functioning autism, or Asperger syndrome.
A March 2016 study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry documented that adults with an autism spectrum disorder who have a learning disability are 40 times more likely to have a lower average lifespan due to a neurological condition than adults in the general population who are not on the spectrum and have no learning disabilities.
Furthermore, the study found out that adults with autism who do not have a learning disability were up to nine times more likely to die by suicide than adults at similar ages who did not have autism.
In this study, people with autism spectrum disorder tended to die at age 54, which is 16 years sooner than the average age of mortality. Adults who have both autism and one or more learning disabilities died almost 30 years sooner than people who had neither, at an average age of 39.5 years old. Those with autism, but no learning disability, died at an average age of 58.
Autism & Suicidal Ideation
Past research has shown that the rates of suicidal ideation among people with ASD is much higher than in the general population.The rates tend to be higher among girls with autism and people with milder forms of disorder.
Additionally, the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders writes that many people on the spectrum (children and adolescents primarily, but also adults) are victimized by bullying, sometimes on a daily basis. This often leads to the development of anxiety conditions and depressive disorders.
Those conditions, on their own, are leading factors in suicidal ideation and behavior. When combined with some of the challenges of living with autism, it significantly increases the risk factors for people with autism spectrum disorder.
