Autism symptoms in toddlers with Down syndrome: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Child Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Children with Down syndrome (DS) may have a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Previous research lacked comprehensive, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to confirm comorbid DS and ASD.
• Understanding this comorbidity is crucial for early intervention and support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in young children with Down syndrome.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current diagnostic tools for identifying ASD in this population.
• To describe the clinical presentation of children with comorbid Down syndrome and autism.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive autism evaluations were performed on 20 2-year-old children with Down syndrome.
• The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic (ADOS-G) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) were utilized.
• Follow-up evaluations were conducted at age 4 years for 18 children.

Main Results:

• 15% of children met criteria for autism spectrum disorder at both 2 and 4 years; 10% met criteria for autistic disorder.
• Difficulties in communication and play were observed in several children, but not always core social deficits.
• The ADOS-G alone may over-identify autism in toddlers with Down syndrome.

Conclusions:

• Clinical judgment is essential for accurate diagnosis of autism in children with Down syndrome.
• Some young children exhibit autism-related communication difficulties without meeting ASD criteria.
• Comorbid Down syndrome and autism presents significant challenges for affected children.