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Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
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Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

Relation between blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity and autistic spectrum disorders: a population-based

U Ek1, E Fernell, L Jacobson

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Stockholm, Sweden.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
|June 18, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Children blind from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) show a high rate of autistic disorder, suggesting a link beyond just vision loss. This association is likely due to associated brain damage in ROP cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric ophthalmology
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Autism spectrum disorder research

Background:

  • Children experiencing blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) exhibit a heightened risk of cerebral damage.
  • Previous observations noted a high incidence of autistic symptoms in ROP-related blindness, but lacked systematic investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a controlled study investigating the association between blindness from retinopathy of prematurity and autistic disorder.
  • To differentiate the impact of ROP-related brain damage from blindness itself on the development of autistic symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled, population-based study design was employed.
  • Two groups of congenitally blind children were compared: those with blindness due to ROP (N=27) and those with blindness from hereditary retinal disease (N=14).
  • Diagnostic assessment for autistic disorder was conducted for all participants.

Main Results:

  • Fifteen out of 27 children (55.6%) with ROP-related blindness were diagnosed with autistic disorder.
  • All children with ROP and autistic disorder also had intellectual disability, and approximately one-third had cerebral palsy.
  • Two out of 14 children (14.3%) in the comparison group (hereditary retinal disease) had autistic disorder.

Conclusions:

  • A significant association exists between retinopathy of prematurity and autistic disorder.
  • The link between ROP and autism is most likely mediated by brain damage, not solely by the visual impairment.
  • Findings suggest ROP as a potential risk factor for autistic disorder, independent of blindness itself.

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