Puberty is a hard time for any teenager and those who surround him or her, but the transformative time in a teen’s life takes new meaning when autism comes into play. Since autism operates on a spectrum, how each teen is affected by puberty also exists on a spectrum.
In an article focused on autism and puberty, CNN spoke to the family of Alexander Brown, a 14-year-old who is severely autistic and going through puberty.
CNN states: “Puberty is causing chaos in Alexander’s once-predictable world. He can’t talk and struggles to express himself. ‘He’s angry and he’s sad…and he doesn’t understand why,’ Brown said. ‘I truly feel for him.’”
The range of emotions Alexander is feeling, or that any teen who is living with autism can feel, while going through puberty are unknown because research on the topic is limited. Particularly in Alexander’s case, understanding what he’s going through is difficult because of his inability to truly communicate with those around him.
As researchers continue their work on how the body functions at various times during the life cycle, it’s incredibly important that they continue to remember those who may have a variety of unique disabilities and challenges that are still vital to study.
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
comments