PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 8329947

Normal and deviant behavior in blind children with ROP.

Abstract

Congenitally blind children, especially with ROP, are at risk for developing autistic traits. Early behavior risk screening would be of value, but no instruments with acceptable specificity are available. Traditional behavioral symptoms of infantile autism also characterize blind children without autistic disturbance. This report attempts at identifying early behavior patterns that distinguish autistic from non-autistic blind children with ROP. Developmental data, parents' reports, and video-recordings are analyzed. It is concluded that observations of developmental delays are not specific enough in screening out the risk group. However, it is possible to describe a behavior pattern, emerging between 12 and 30 months, of unresponsitivity and stereotypic object manipulation, which distinguishes autistic and non-autistic subjects. This might be a pattern of specific risk behavior in blind children. However, further prospective studies must be performed to test these proportions.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

U Janson. 1993. Normal and deviant behavior in blind children with ROP.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.1993.tb04145.x

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

One-year change in repetitive behaviours in young children with communication disorders including autism.

Repetitive behaviours are a relatively neglected area of study in autism. Previous research has concluded that repetitive behaviour is inversely related to ability and that it tends to increase over the preschool years. One-hundred and four children ages 24-48 months, with autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other disorders, were followed for 13 months. Twelve items from the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) were analysed, as well as diagnostic algorithm scores. Ability was related to degree of repetitive behaviours, except for one cluster of relatively able children. ADI-R repetitive behaviour algorithm scores increased over time; however, when all 12 behaviours were considered, there was a general decrease in impact upon the child's and family's activities. Reasons for this decrease are discussed.

Autistic Disorder↗

Mutation screening of the ARX gene in patients with autism.

Mutations in the Aristaless related homeobox (ARX) gene are associated with a broad spectrum of disorders, including nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation, sometimes associated with epilepsy, as well as syndromic forms with brain abnormalities and abnormal genitalia. Furthermore, ARX mutations have been described in a few patients with autism or autistic features. In this study, we screened the ARX gene in 226 male patients with autism spectrum disorders and mental retardation; 42 of the patients had epilepsy. The mutation analysis was performed by direct sequencing of all exons and flanking regions. No ARX mutations were identified in any of the patients tested. These findings indicate that mutations in the ARX gene are very rare in autism.

Autistic Disorder↗