New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline - Ministry of Health

Part 2: Support for individuals, families and carers
2.3 Physical well-being
Summary of recommendations
Recommendations
2.3.1 Individualised support should be available to people with ASD who require
assistance to manage their physical well-being and health care.
Grade
C
2.3.2 Medical assessments should be comprehensive. B
2.3.3 A health-assessment profile for people with ASD should be developed and
medical and health care practitioners trained in its use accordingly.
B
2.3.4 The health-assessment profile should include:
• screening for mental health issues and the careful surveillance for emergence
of epilepsy
• age-related prompts for screening for hearing loss, eyesight changes/
glaucoma, hypertension and metabolic syndrome
• dietary and exercise guidelines to prevent secondary health issues, especially
for those on medication
• screening for motor, sensory and perceptual difficulties.
B
Part 2
2.3.5 People with ASD should have regular health checks, especially if they have an
intellectual disability or have ASD symptoms that may impair their ability to selfmonitor
or report potential heath problems.
B
2.3.6 Medical and health care practitioners should take into account the
symptomatology of their ASD clients/patients, and adapt their practices and
procedures accordingly.
C
2.3.7 The dental needs of people with ASD in New Zealand should be investigated.
People with ASD should be provided with factual information on dental hygiene
tailored to their cognitive level.
Dentists should alter their processes and procedures to take into account the
symptomatology of their ASD patients.
2.3.8 The quality and quantity of sleep of people with ASD should be considered by
health care professionals, and be addressed therapeutically.
Medication and behavioural treatment of sleep disorders should be considered.
The effectiveness of medication and behavioural treatment of sleep disorders
should be further investigated.
B
C
B
B
C
C
New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline 73