I work with an autistic female who constently wants to drink liquids hot or cold or what fhe liquid is she goes to great lengths to even steal and she wont stop. whats going on?

Frequent drinking: She maybe dehydrated. Please have her urine tested for diabetes.

It depends: If this is a new behavior then a metabolic condition like diabetes needs to be considered. If it is a long standing behavior than it may be part of an obsessive compulsive disorder. It is not uncommon for individuals with autism to have these types of behaviors. Behavioral therapy may be helpful but medications may also be used to control the behaviors.

Either: She has a duplication in the prader-willi region of chromosome 15 or other genetic error that produces compulsive behaviors or she has anxiety with obsessive-compulsive symptoms. If she is taking other peoples' drinks, you have the right to tell your boss. She needs both psychiatric & psychological evals & therapy. Or she has diabetes or other metabolic condition.

Perseveration: Perseveration is common in autism where a patient wants to do certain behavior to sooth self. Perseverative behavior is part of autism also called stereotype.