Objective: To assess level of involvement of neurological impairment in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders are not singly related to a psychiatric field. Often changes of motor development and neurological condition occur that worsen socialization of these patients and their quality of life. Frequently patients do not communicate with peers because they cannot fulfil tasks that typically developing children are capable of.

Method: 179 patients with ASD (F84.0) were examined using Autism Comorbidity Interview, parent’s questionnaires, neurological examination, dynamometry, Box and Blocks test, and the 9-hole peg test. Patients aged 5 to 14, mean age – 7.2 years.

Results: Only 28.9% of children with ASD had no comorbid neurological pathology. 34.8% had uni/bilateral pyramidal tract insufficiency, 21.9% had perinatal lesion of the Central Nervous System (F82), 9.9% had Cerebral Palsy (G80), and 9.9% had epilepsy (G40). 25.7% of patients had an increase of muscle tone in distal parts of lower/upperlimbs, 18.8% had a decreased range of passive motions in the joints of the lower limbs. Fine hand function was impaired in 45.9% of patients, both manipulative and grasping abilities were worse in comparison to average scores.

Conclusion: Changes in neurological state in patients with ASD are common. There is an acute necessity to identify and code them accordingly. This will benefit complex treatment approach for these patients. Indicates the necessity for the rehabilitation of ASD patients it to be multidirectional.

References: Part of the data was presented at 15th International Child Neurology Congress, Mumbai (ICNC2018) and 5th International Conference on Disability and Rehabilitation, Riyadh, KSA (ICDR2018).

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/impairment-of-neurological-ontogenesis-in-children-with-austism-spectrum-disorders/