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A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
08:42

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

Clinical characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring epilepsy

Emma W Viscidi1, Elizabeth W Triche, Matthew F Pescosolido

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.

Plos One
|July 18, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Epilepsy affects about 12% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), rising to 26% in adolescents. Older age and lower cognitive ability are key risk factors for this comorbidity in ASD patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Epilepsy is a common comorbidity in individuals with ASD, impacting management and prognosis.
  • Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of epilepsy in ASD is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • To identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with epilepsy in this population.
  • To investigate independent predictors of epilepsy in children with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 5,815 children with ASD across four samples.
  • Epilepsy prevalence was estimated using a population-based sample.
  • Demographic and clinical data were compared between children with and without epilepsy, with multivariate logistic regression used for analysis.

Main Results:

  • The average prevalence of epilepsy in children with ASD (ages 2-17) was 12.5%, increasing to 26% in those aged 13 and older.
  • Epilepsy was initially associated with older age, lower cognitive ability, poorer functioning, developmental regression, and more severe ASD symptoms.
  • Independent predictors identified were older age (OR 2.35 for age ≥10) and lower cognitive ability (OR 0.53 per SD increase in IQ).

Conclusions:

  • This study provides robust evidence on the prevalence of epilepsy in children with ASD, reaching 26% by adolescence.
  • Older age and lower cognitive ability are independently associated with epilepsy in children with ASD.
  • Findings aid in identifying at-risk individuals and guiding prognosis for co-occurring epilepsy in ASD.
Abstract

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