AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY OR BOTH .1. CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders was studied in all childre n with mental retardation and/or motor disability in a defined geograp hical region over a two-year follow-up period. In the general populati on, the prevalence of autistic disorder was 0.09% at the end of the fo llow-up period - a minimum estimate. a children with average intellige nce were not screened. Autism spectrum disorders were found in 19.8% o f children with mental retardation, including strictly defined autisti c disorder (DSM-III-R criteria) in 8.9%; the two-year follow-up yielde d a higher prevalence of 11.7% with autistic disorder. Among children with cerebral palsy, 10.5% had an autism spectrum disorder. Clear co-v ariation was found between mental retardation, epilepsy and autism spe ctrum disorders in this population of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.