Autism and parents' education. New data from the developing world.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the link between autism disorders and engineering training of parents.


METHODS
All Autistic-Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) children that were diagnosed on the bases of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), and met the required criteria for autism, over a defined period (March 2006 to June 2007) were included. We then took all non-PDD developmental disorders cases seen during the same time frame as the autistic children as a control; these included speech delay, mental retardation, and Down's syndrome. Our data covered demographic data, parents and grandparents' education, and profession. Parents' education/professions were classified into 2 groups only, 1-engineering or mathematician; and 2-humanities, neither engineering nor math. The children were divided into 2 groups, autism (57 cases), and developmental disorders (40 cases).


RESULTS
Regarding the main question of this study (hypothesized engineering link), the data showed some differences between the 2 groups (x2 = 2.503, degrees of freedom [df] = 1; p = 0.093), but not of major significance. There was no significant difference (x2 = 0.370; df = 2; p = 0.831) between the 2 groups on the variable of consanguinity.


CONCLUSIONS
We have found that the Saudi Arabian sample, though relatively small, has considerable similarities with both the UK and USA data. There is a possibility of an association between autism and the engineering/math training of fathers. The implication is briefly discussed.
Al-Eithan
Muwafak H
MH
Psychology Department & Research Center, Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. maleithan@humanitariancity.org.sa
Balkhi
Sohair H
SH
Al-Bluwi
Amal M
AM
D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D003241:Consanguinity; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D004522:Educational Status; D004738:Engineering; D005260:Female; D006809:Humanities / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies