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Epilepsy in children with autistic spectrum disorder

V Wong1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.

Journal of Child Neurology
|October 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Epilepsy affects a significant portion of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), with most seizures starting before age one. Autistic children face a higher risk of epilepsy compared to other developmental conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
  • The co-occurrence of ASD and epilepsy is frequently observed in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of epilepsy in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.
  • To investigate the characteristics of epilepsy in this population, including age of onset and seizure types.
  • To compare the risk of epilepsy in children with ASD to those with other developmental conditions.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study design was employed.
  • The study included 246 children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.
  • Prevalence rates were calculated for epilepsy within different ASD diagnostic categories.

Main Results:

  • Epilepsy was identified in 7.6% of children with infantile autism and 5% with other autistic conditions.
  • The majority of seizures began before the age of one year, with a predominance in boys.
  • No correlation was found between seizure onset, type, sex, mentality, and epilepsy outcome.
  • Children with ASD showed an increased risk of epilepsy compared to those with developmental dysphasia or Down syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • Epilepsy is a significant comorbidity in children with autistic spectrum disorder.
  • An underlying brain defect may contribute to both autistic manifestations and epilepsy in some children.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the complex relationship between ASD and epilepsy.

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