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Social communication difficulties and autism spectrum disorder in young children with optic nerve hypoplasia and/or septo-optic dysplasia.
- Source :
-
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology . Oct2010, Vol. 52 Issue 10, p917-921. 5p. 2 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Aim The aim of this study was to study systematically social, communication, and repetitive/restrictive (SCRR) behavioural difficulties and clinical autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) and/or septo-optic dysplasia (SOD), and to investigate the relationship between visual impairment, SCRR difficulties, ASD, and cognition. Method A case-note study of clinic records from a specialist developmental vision service was completed. Standardized assessments of vision and development and clinician judgements about SCRR difficulties and clinical ASD were made by a multidisciplinary team. Results A total of 45 females and 38 males (mean age 3y 5mo; range 10mo–6y 10mo) with ONH or SOD and profound visual impairment (PVI) or severe visual impairment (SVI) were assessed. A total of 58% of children had at least one SCRR difficulty, and 31% had a clinical diagnosis of ASD. The prevalence of ASD was slightly higher in children with SOD than in children with ONH (36% vs 26%) also slightly more frequent in children with PVI than in children with SVI (36% vs 27%). The prevalence of SCRR difficulties was statistically higher in children with PVI than in children with SVI ( p=0.003). Clinical ASD was most likely to be diagnosed between 2 years 4 months and 4 years 6 months. Development was significantly delayed in children with ASD compared with children without social communication difficulties ( p=0.001). Interpretation Children with SVI or PVI are at risk of SCRR difficulties and clinical ASD. Children with ONH and/or SOD and visual impairment have a similar risk of developing clinical ASD as other visual impairment groups. However, ASD prevalence data from this study are a minimum estimate, as some young children may have developed ASD behaviours in later childhood. Developmental surveillance for children with ONH and/or SOD should continue until at least the age of 4 years 6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00121622
- Volume :
- 52
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 53420469
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03664.x