Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, Lake Success, NY.
Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2018 Sep;39(7):538-546. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000591.
To examine the clinical characteristics associated with wandering in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the impact on families, and how medical and educational professionals address wandering.
An anonymous, online questionnaire was distributed through autism-related organizations to parents of children with ASD. The questionnaire asked about demographics, developmental diagnoses, past wandering behavior, and impact of wandering on parents. It also asked about the use of electronic tracking devices, requested Individualized Education Program (IEP) modifications, use of restraints and/or seclusion to prevent wandering at school, and receipt of guidance about wandering. Parents were included if they lived in the United States and had a child aged 4 to 18 years with ASD who had previously wandered.
A total of 1454 parents who completed the questionnaire met the inclusion criteria. It was found that 22.4% of the children wandered from their home or yard and 24.6% from a public place more than monthly. Wandering concerns affected 73.3% of parents' decisions to let their child spend time with friends or family in their absence. Furthermore, 48.6% and 58.7% of parents were moderately/very worried about their child wandering from home or yard or a public place, respectively. Over half of the parents (54.9%) parents requested IEP changes to address wandering. Only 33.3% of parents had previously received any counseling about wandering.
Children with ASD and a history of elopement wandered at a fairly high frequency. Wandering concerns increased worry and anxiety for parents and negatively impacted household routines. The medical community is not adequately educating families about these risks. Pediatricians must become more aware of available prevention and mitigation strategies.
探讨与自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童游荡相关的临床特征、对家庭的影响，以及医疗和教育专业人员如何处理游荡问题。
通过自闭症相关组织向 ASD 儿童的家长发放匿名在线问卷。问卷询问了人口统计学、发育诊断、过去的游荡行为以及游荡对家长的影响。它还询问了电子跟踪设备的使用情况、对个人教育计划（IEP）的修改、在学校使用约束或隔离以防止游荡、以及是否收到有关游荡的指导。如果他们居住在美国，家中有 4 至 18 岁的 ASD 儿童且曾有游荡史，则纳入家长进行调查。
共有 1454 名家长完成了问卷，符合纳入标准。发现 22.4%的儿童曾从家或院子里游荡，24.6%的儿童每月从公共场所游荡超过一次。游荡问题影响了 73.3%的家长决定让孩子在不在场的情况下与朋友或家人共度时光。此外，48.6%和 58.7%的家长对孩子从家或院子或公共场所游荡分别表示中度/非常担心。超过一半的家长（54.9%）要求修改 IEP 以解决游荡问题。只有 33.3%的家长之前曾接受过任何有关游荡的咨询。
有过逃跑史的 ASD 儿童游荡的频率相当高。游荡问题增加了家长的担忧和焦虑，对家庭日常生活产生了负面影响。医疗界没有充分向家庭宣传这些风险。儿科医生必须更加了解可用的预防和缓解策略。
