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Autistic kids struggle with stress: study

A new study suggests many adolescent kids with autism need support with stress and find concentrating in class difficult.

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Eszter (R) plays in the group of the autistic of a special school in Batonyterenye, 96 kms northeast of Budapest, Hungary, 19 September 2013

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Source: AAP


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Autistic teenagers seem to struggle to concentrate in class, feel lonely and need support managing stress.

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) released a new report on Wednesday after surveying 100 adolescents aged 12 to 17 with higher-functioning autism.

Three-quarters of respondents said they needed more support preparing for exams and that they found concentrating in class difficult.

Sixty-nine per cent felt lonely and about the same proportion said they needed help with dealing with stress.

Aspect general manager Debra Costley said teachers could do simple things to support kids with autism, such as giving clear instructions about what is expected of them.

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"There are lots of things that can be done in mainstream schools that are not that difficult," Dr Costley told AAP.

"We're not asking people to completely rewrite the curriculum or change their practice for this group of students."

Aspect, which is a not-for-profit autism-specific service provider, is calling on governments to increase funding for support services.


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