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Individuals with autism spectrum disorders may be prone to wandering or elopement, which can raise a significant health and safety risk. It is important for family members and caregivers to be aware of the risks and prevention strategies.<\/p>\n
Wandering may include moving about with no apparent fixed plan in mind, or moving toward a location such as a landmark or place of obsession. Individuals with autism may also respond to loud noises or excitement by wandering or quickly fleeing. Elopement refers to a situation where a person with autism leaves a safe setting unnoticed or unsupervised. One of the leading causes of death among people with autism is drowning, exposure and other wandering-related factors.<\/p>\n
Wandering has a medical diagnosis code approved by the Centers for Disease Control. Caregivers for people at risk of wandering should discuss the diagnosis code with the treating physician. A medical diagnosis can be helpful in obtaining (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Individuals with autism spectrum disorders may be prone to wandering or elopement, which can raise a significant health and safety risk. It is important for family members and caregivers to be aware of the risks and prevention strategies. Wandering may…<\/span><\/p>\n