Abnormalities on the Neurological Examination and EEG in Young Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Organisation
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Author
Akshoomoff, N., Farid, N., Courchesne, E and Haas, R
Detailed Description
This study examined the nature and frequency of neurological and EEG abnormalities in 60 young children (ages 2–6 years) with pervasive developmental disorders. A number of standard neurological functions could not be adequately assessed due to the young age of the children and/or limited comprehension and cooperation. The most common neurological deficits were hyporeflexia, stereotypies, and hypotonia. EEG abnormalities were identified in 32% of the children while only two children were known to have clinical seizures. The frequency of cases with hypotonia or hyporeflexia was more common than in older children with this diagnosis. Results also indicate that EEG abnormalities are common in this young population but clinical seizures are rare, confirming other studies.
Not until the middle of the twentieth century was there a name for a disorder that now appears to affect an estimated 3.4 every 1,000 children ages 3-10, a disorder that causes disruption in families and unfulfilled lives for many children. In 1943 Dr. Leo Kanner of the Johns Hopkins Hospital studied a group of 11 children and introduced the label early infantile autism into the English language. At the same time a German scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, described a milder form of the disorder that became known as Asperger syndrome. Thus these two disorders were described and are today listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders1 as two of the five pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), more often referred to today as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). All these disorders are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior.
Autism Spectrum Disorders/ Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Assessment and Treatment
Organisation
Cigna Healthcare Coverage Position
Author
Cigna
Detailed Description
Assessment and treatment for comorbid behavioral health and/or medical diagnoses and associated symptoms and/or conditions may be covered under applicable CIGNA HealthCare medical and behavioral health benefit plans.
Autism: The Answer May Be Reflected in the Mirror Neuron
Organisation
Applied Neurology
Author
Litof, C. B.
Detailed Description
Concerns about autism are well-placed: governmental statistics indicate that its incidence is increasing by a startling 10% to 17% per year. Its prevalence has been steadily increasing as well, from 3.5 per 10,000 births in 1982 to 18.3 per 10,000 births in 1990-a 55% increase.
Autism, it appears, is here to stay. Reports of a possible association between autism and children's vaccines spurred devotion of hours of airtime to increasing public awareness of autism.
