EAP 2019 Congress and MasterCourse

Epidemiological Features of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): An Egyptian Sample

Dina Y. Elalfy 1 Hassnaa Othman Mohammed 2
1Lecturer of Pediatric Diseases, Department of Medical Studies for Children, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Egypt
2Lecturer of Phoniatrics, Department of Medical Studies for Children, Faculty of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Background: ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. The epidemiological features of ASD and the variability of communicative abilities among both genders were poorly studied among Egyptian children. Moreover, the relation between intellectual disability (ID) and severity of symptoms among ASD children in both genders was an area of contradiction among literature.

Objective:

  • Determine some epidemiological features of ASD
  • Determine the variability of Intelligent Quotient (IQ) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and total language age.
  • Compare these variables for both genders.

Methods: This retrospective study was done in the period between January 2017 and May 2018 at the special needs center of Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. The study was carried on 705 children with neuro- developmental disorders (510 males and 195 females) attending the pediatric and phoniatric clinics. Assessment was done utilizing standardized Arabic language test, DMS- 5, severity of ASD symptoms using CARS and assessment of IQ using Wechsler non-verbal test (WNV).

Results: The ratio of ASD among the studied sample was 1/ 20 (36 in 705) (5.1%) (27 males and 9 females). The male/ female ratio was 3:1. After application of CARS, twenty four children (67%) were mildly autistic, 5 children (14%) were moderately autistic and 7 children (19%) were severely autistic. After application of WNV, 60% had mild ID, 20% had moderate ID and 20% had a borderline IQ. Males with ASD received significantly higher IQ scores than females. The relationship between IQ and CARS went in the reverse direction. After application of standardized Arabic language test, males were significantly higher in their verbal communicative abilities than females.

Conclusions: The severity of ID and severity of ASD symptoms went in direct proportional relationship. ASD in females is accompanied by marked reduction in IQ than in males. The verbal communicative abilities are higher among male children.









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