[Early childhood autism: age at onset and early regression]

The age at onset of autistic symptoms and an early setback in the social or language development of children with early infantile autism has been discussed in the literature as a possible marker for a special subgroup. Information on the number of children with these symptoms varies widely in different reports. The purpose of this study is to analyse how often a late onset or a regression in social or language behaviour are reported in a clinical sample and how they are related to other abnormalities found in these children.

The files on 101 children seen in a specialised outpatient department since 1993 and diagnosed with early infantile autism were analysed. Information on the six axes of the multiaxial classification, the age at onset of symptoms and at setback in social or language development was extracted.

Of these 101 children, 75% were described as being different from other children from the beginning. Fourteen showed a regression in social behaviour and 21 a regression in language development. These symptoms did not correlate with intelligence or the status of language development at the time of the assessment. Children with a setback more frequently had epileptic seizures than did children without a setback.

The accumulated data permit the hypothesis that children with a late onset of autistic symptoms or a regression constitute a special subgroup within the group of children with early infantile autism. These symptoms should lead to an intensive diagnostic process in order to exclude epileptic abnormalities.