Head circumference measurements in children with autism

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Pediatric Growth Studies

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
• Head circumference variations are observed in some children with ASD.
• Understanding physical growth patterns in ASD is crucial for comprehensive care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate head circumference differences in children diagnosed with autism.
• To identify associated physical and developmental characteristics in children with macrocephaly within the autism population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 148 children meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III/DSM-III-R) criteria for autism.
• Children were categorized into two groups based on head circumference: at or above the 98th percentile (Group 1) versus below (Group 2).
• Comparative analysis of height, weight, sex distribution, adaptive behavior, and available brain imaging data between groups.

Main Results:

• 18.2% of children with autism presented with head circumference at or above the 98th percentile (Group 1).
• Group 1 exhibited significantly higher height (P = .0006) and weight (P = .0003) compared to Group 2.
• A lower percentage of females (P = .04) and reduced adaptive behavior scores (P = .0067) were noted in Group 1.

Conclusions:

• Children with autism and large head circumference (macrocephaly) tend to be taller and heavier.
• Macrocephaly in this cohort was not explained by routine brain imaging.
• The underlying etiology for increased head size and growth indices in autism remains unclear, warranting further investigation.