Characterization and evaluation of brain fatigue in autistic students: questionnaire development in a participatory research approach
Caractérisation et évaluation de la fatigue cérébrale chez les étudiants autistes: élaboration d’un questionnaire en recherche participative
Résumé
Context. Brain fatigue (BF) is a long-lasting psychobiological state of exhaustion, associated with a progressive decrease of cognitive resources, that isn’t cured by rest. The autistic symptomatology constitutes a vulnerability for brain fatigue, in particular during the transition into adulhood. Objective. Develop a questionnaire to evaluate and propose a first characterization of BF. Methods. Fourty high school students completed a questionnaire, collaboratively designed with 12 autistic adults in the pilot phase. Results. More than 90 % note an important fatigue, that severely impacts daily activities such as doing their homework (n=25), expressing themselves (n=12) and having the impression of losing their cognitive abilities. 83 % also report associated physical symptoms, including physical exhaustion (n=30), clumsiness (n=23) or migraines (n=22). Conclusion. This preliminary study (part of a broader particpatory project on BF in autism, by the independent research group we founded, the LAPEFA: https://lapefa.com) highlights the presence of BF among these autistic students. Consequences on their academic path and quality of life need to be examined closely and taken into consideration to limit the risks of autistic burnout. Keywords: brain fatigue, autism spectrum conditions, instrument development, particpatory approach, quality of life, transition into adulthood
Mots clés
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