Autism High Risk Children
/ 0
- Details
- Category: Vol. 81, September 2013
- Hits: 738
Autism High Risk Children, TAHER ABDELRAHEEM and GHADA O. ELSEDFY
Abstract
Background: Autism is a chronic and lifelong pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children's social, language/communication, and behavioral development. Risk factors for autism include prenatal, perinatal and neonatal factors while early detection of autism includes impairment of language and communication characteristics.
Aim of the Work: To identify the risk factors for autism.
Patients and Methods: This study included 43 autistic children collected from psychiatric and pediatric clinics in Al-Ahsa Hospital, Al-Ahsa City, KSA. Autistic children were diagnosed clinically and confirmed by application of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G). The study included also 43 age matched children came for vacci-nation as a control group. Unfavorable prenatal, perinatal and neonatal events and language and communication difficulties were examined and compared in both groups.
Results: The majority of the autistic group were boys 34 (79.07%) in comparison to 24 boys (55.81%) in the control group (p=0.0213). Maternal age above 35 years was found in 17 (39.53%) cases in the study group versus 5 (11.63%) in the control group (p=0.0030). Among the autistic children, the rate of uterine bleeding 17 (39.53%), prolonged labor 18 (41.86%), low birth weight 11 (25.58%) and birth hypoxia 12 (27.91%) were significantly more than in the control group [4 (9.3%), 7 (16.28%), 3 (6.98%) and 4 (9.3%) respectively]. In the autistic group, family discord 23 (53.49%) and family move 17 (39.54%) were more frequent than control group [12 (27.91%) and 5 (11.63%) respectively]. Reciprocal social skills were less frequent in autistic children 17 (39.54%) than control group children 31 (72.09%) while lack of social smile, poor eye contact and language delay were more frequent among autistic children [23 (53.49%), 21 (48.84%) and 35 (81.4%) respectively] than control group children [9 (20.93%), 7 (16.28%) and 8 (18.61%) respectively].
Conclusion: Study of risk factors for autistic disorder and follow-up assessment enables early diagnosis of autism in younger children, leading to earlier intervention and assistance for an improved prognosis and long-term outcome.