NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS COMBINED WITH AUTISM IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Objective: A total of 121 autistic children (male/female: 3.1/1) aged between 3-18 years were included in the study to investigate the characteristics of neurological disorders and some of their risk factors in autistic children. Material and Method: Data on the sociodemographic features, developmental characteristics, and physical and neurological findings were noted for all patients diagnosed as autism according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision criteria. Results of cranial magnetic resonance imaging and sleep EEG records were re-evaluated. Groups then were organized according to the presence or absence of neurological disorder, of epilepsy and of cerebral palsy associating autism. Chi-square test was used for statistical comparisons among sub-groups. Results: A total of 49 patients (40.4%) had a neurological involvement associating autism. Epilepsy was the most common condition with a 33% rate. Presence of consanguineous parents (32.5%; 16%) and delayed walking (32.5%; 12.3) was significantly higher in patients with seizures as compared to patients without seizures. A history of preterm delivery (46.2%), low birth weight (38.5%), natal and prenatal problems (53.8%), delayed walking (84,6%) and presence of gait problems (100%) were more common in autistics with cerebral palsy than those (7.5%; 7.4%; 18.5%; 11.1%; 12% respectively) in autistics without cerebral palsy. These findings were significant statistically. Epilepsy was significantly more common in cerebral palsy patients (53.8%) than those without cerebral palsy (23.1%) (p=0.01). Conclusion: Neurological disorders are not unusual in autistic children. In case of autistic conditions with a history of low birth weight, prematurity, delayed walking and/or presence of gait difficulties a thorough neurological evaluation may give way for better measures of management and improve the quality of life.