Autism spectrum symptoms in children with cerebral palsy: Prevalence and co-occurring conditions

Abstract

PurposeTo explore autism spectrum symptoms in children with cerebral palsy (CP), and the association between autism spectrum symptoms and medical and psychiatric co-morbidity. MethodologyParents of children with CP in a Norwegian population were interviewed with a child psychiatric diagnostic instrument, and completed the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). Medical and socio-demographic data were obtained. ASSQ mean scores were compared to the Bergen Child Study (BCS), both to healthy controls and to subgroups of children with chronic illness in general, and neurological disorders specifically. ResultsInterviews and data collection were completed for 47 children, of whom 30 were boys, most had spastic CP, and were less severely affected by CP. Large effect sizes were found when comparing ASSQ mean scores in children with CP to children with chronic illnesses and normal controls. One in five children was ASSQ high scorers defined as a score above the 98th percentile of normal controls. A high rate of co-occurring psychiatric disorders, mainly AD/HD, was found in ASSQ high scorers. ConclusionsMore attention should be given to autism spectrum symptoms in the regular follow-up of children with CP in an attempt to enhance social functioning.