Understanding health services and puberty for autistic adolescents and those with disability: A scoping review to inform occupational therapy practice.

This review looked at how health professionals help autistic teenagers and teens with disabilities through puberty. Researchers found that these young people face extra challenges during puberty and need more support. Parents often feel worried and burdened. There's not enough research specifically about occupational therapy's role, but the findings show there's a big opportunity for occupational therapists to help families better understand and navigate puberty changes.

This scoping review examined health services supporting autistic adolescents and those with disabilities through puberty to inform occupational therapy practice. After screening 795 articles, 17 studies were retained covering various health professions, with only two focused on occupational therapy. Four key themes emerged: challenges experienced by adolescents during puberty, parental concerns and caregiver burden, importance of education for all stakeholders, and health professional perspectives and practices. The review found that autistic adolescents and those with disabilities face additional puberty-related challenges requiring enhanced support.

A significant gap exists in occupational therapy literature for this population, highlighting opportunities for the profession to develop evidence-based, family-centered approaches to puberty care.

Results highlight need for puberty-focused training for allied health professionals and evidence-based practice development. Occupational therapy has opportunity to lead family-centered puberty care. Enhanced education programs needed for clients, caregivers, and families. Multi-professional collaboration essential to address complex support needs during adolescent transition periods.

Limited to 17 studies from initial 795 screened articles. No direct consumer or community involvement in the review process. Lack of specific occupational therapy research limits direct practice guidance. Study relies on existing literature which may not capture recent developments in practice approaches.

Puberty is a transitional period presenting challenges for autistic adolescents, adolescents with disabilities and their families. There are opportunities for occupational therapy to provide support to this cohort as adolescents navigate the complexity of puberty transition. However, there is a lack of published evidence and knowledge translation to guide practice. It is important to scope the literature to gain understanding of the pubertal experiences of autistic adolescents, adolescents with a disability, their families and services accessed for support.

The aim of this scoping review was to determine the current role and practice of health professionals supporting autistic adolescents and/or adolescents with disability and their families through puberty, to inform occupational therapy practice. A scoping review was conducted following JBI protocols. Four databases were searched systematically. Key search terms included health professions, terminology for the stages and process of puberty, and neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities.

Eligible articles included literature published within the last 20 years, focused on the experience or recollection of people with disabilities undergoing puberty and experience of parents, caregivers or health professionals who support them. There was no direct consumer or community involvement within this scoping review. After screening 795 articles, 90 full texts were reviewed, and 17 were retained. Studies included a range of health professions, with two studies focused solely on occupational therapy.

Themes identified included (1) challenges experienced by adolescents; (2) parental concerns and caregiver burden; (3) the importance of education for clients, caregivers and families; and (4) perspectives and practice of health professionals. Autistic adolescents and people with disability experience additional challenges during puberty and require additional support needs. There is a lack of literature focusing specifically on the role of occupational therapy in this field. Evidence from health services can more broadly inform and guide future direction for occupational therapy practice.

There is a need for puberty-focused training for allied health professionals and an opportunity for occupational therapy to position itself at the forefront of evidence-based, family-and-client-centred practice in puberty-related care.