A Neurodiversity-Oriented Approach to Address Autism Wandering as a “Problem Behavior” in Pediatrics

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Hotez, E. & Giwa Onaiwu, M. (2023). A Neurodiversity-Oriented Approach to Address Autism Wandering as a “Problem Behavior” in Pediatrics. Cureus, 15(6), e40862-e40862. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40862

Publication date: 23 Jun 2023 Added to AutiHub: 5 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Emily Hotez
  2. Morénike Giwa Onaiwu *

Abstract

Pediatricians are frequently tasked with addressing autism "problem behaviors," including wandering, defined as leaving the safety of a responsible person's care or a safe area (alternatively referred to as elopement). In the following commentary, we - as autism researchers and individuals with lived experience - discuss the prevalence and public health consequences of wandering. We conceptualize wandering in the context of "problem behaviors" for autistic individuals and describe the current state of the evidence on wandering prevention and intervention. We emphasize that pediatricians have a unique opportunity to optimize their efforts to address wandering - as well as related "problem behaviors" - utilizing a neurodiversity orientation. This will allow them to enact approaches that address the potential upstream mechanisms underlying wandering to make these efforts more effective and provide critical assistance to families. In this manuscript, we provide recommendations to pediatricians to more effectively address the mechanisms underlying and exacerbating these challenges to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life of autistic children and their families. In particular, we recommend that pediatricians focus efforts toward 1) addressing the link between chronic stress and "problem behaviors"; 2) engaging individuals, caregivers, and families as experts in their health and development; and 3) collaborating with the systems and sectors relevant to autistic individuals and their families.

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Cited references
32
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
4 / 32 (12.5%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
9 / 134 (6.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 9 / 38 (23.7%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 8 / 124 (6.5%).
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38 / 134 (28.4%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 36 / 124 (29.0%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
29 / 38 (76.3%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 29 / 134 (21.6%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 28 / 36 (77.8%).
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