Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by social and communicative impairments and the presence of restricted, stereotyped behaviours. In the assessment of pain, these communicative difficulties and sensory differences make it difficult for the evaluation of pain. Traditionally, autistic individuals were thought to have a hyposensitivity to pain but recent evidence demonstrates a different expression of pain. Taken together, an altered expression of pain and a history of healthcare inattentiveness to pain has led to poor health outcomes, later presentations of disease and under-management pain. 

Citation

Ha, J., & Brooker, K. (2019). How can we better assess pain in autistic patients? A scoping review [Poster]. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium, 29 September. Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

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Program