Autism and developmental delay: a comparative clinical study in very young children using IBSE scale.
OBJECTIVE
This study improves the knowledge of early autistic symptomatology and research concerning (i) the significant differences in the behaviors of children with autistic disorder (AD) and children with a developmental delay (DD), and (ii) the influence of the cognitive delay on symptomatology.


METHODS
Two groups of 20 young children (7-42 months) were compared: children with AD, and those with DD. The groups were paired by chronological and developmental age. The comparison was extended to four subgroups composed according to age (younger and older children--<24 months, >24 months) and to the global development quotient (GDQ) (the more and less delayed). Each child was evaluated with the Infant Behavior Summarized Evaluation scale (IBSE).


RESULTS
For the younger AD children, significant differences affected social communication and their adaptation to the environment (intolerance to frustration, resistance to change). For the older children (>24 months), this study showed the rapid progression of the number of distinctive signs between AD and DD children according to age and/or developmental level.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive delay has an important influence on the symptomatology at the moment of initial recognition of an autistic syndrome. This study is a complement for the fuller understanding of the nature and early diagnosis of disorders specific to autism at the earliest phases of development.
Desombre
Hugues
H
Unité de Psychopathologie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent Dépt. de Pédiatrie, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Place d'Arsonval, 69437, Lyon Cedex 03, France. hugues.desombre@chu-lyon.fr
Malvy
Joelle
J
Roux
Sylvie
S
de Villard
Régis
R
Sauvage
Dominique
D
Dalery
Jean
J
Lenoir
Pascal
P
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires