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Age and type of onset as critical variables in early infantile autism
Insights
This study identified two autism onset types: Natal and Acquired. The Acquired group showed better intellectual and language development, suggesting stress coping difficulties may underlie both autism types.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Child psychology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents with diverse onset patterns.
- Understanding the etiological factors and developmental trajectories of different ASD subtypes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between prenatal/perinatal factors and early childhood variables with distinct autism onset types.
- To compare the long-term intellectual functioning and language development outcomes for different autism onset groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 131 children diagnosed with autism.
- Classification into 'Natal' (prenatal/perinatal onset) and 'Acquired' (early childhood onset) groups.
- Assessment of intellectual functioning and language development at follow-up.
Main Results:
- Prenatal and perinatal variables were significantly associated with the Natal onset group.
- Early childhood factors (ages 1-3) were significant for the Acquired onset group.
- The Acquired group demonstrated a better prognosis regarding intellectual functioning and language development.
Conclusions:
- Autism may manifest with distinct etiological pathways based on onset timing.
- An underlying difficulty in coping with stress is hypothesized for both Natal and Acquired autism.
- Early identification and intervention may be critical for improving outcomes in acquired autism.
Abstract:
A retrospective study of 131 autistic children was made in which 2 groups, Natal and Acquired, were defined on the bases of age at onset and type of onset. Prenatal and perinatal variables were found to be significantly related to Natal onset, whereas in the Acquired group the significant variables were those occurring in early childhood, between years 1 and 3. Follow-up data on intellectual functioning and language development indicated a better prognosis for the Acquired group. An inability to cope with stress is postulated as an underlying feature in both instances, present from birth in the Natal group and occurring in the face of developmental stresses in the Acquired group.