Photoanthropometric study of dysmorphic features of the face in children with autism and asperger syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Childhood autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication and by a pattern of stereotypical behaviors and interests. The aim of this study was to estimate the dysmorphic facial features of children with autism and children with Asperger syndrome.


METHODS
The examination was conducted on 60 children (30 with childhood autism and 30 with Asperger syndrome). The photo anthropometric method used in this study followed the protocol established by Stengel-Rutkowski et al.


RESULTS
The performed statistical analysis showed that in patients with childhood autism, the anteriorly rotated ears and the long back of the nose appeared more often. In the group of children with autism, there was a connection between the amount of dysmorphies and the presence of some somatic diseases in the first-degree relatives. There was also a connection between the motor coordination and the age the child began to walk.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with childhood autism, there were certain dysmorphies (like the anterior rotated ears and the long back of the nose) which appeared more often. Although the connection was not statistically significant, it seemed to concur with data from the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Formulation of the other conclusions would require broader studies e.g. dealing with a familial analysis of dysmorphic features.
Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Pyskowicka 49, 42-600 Tarnowskie Góry, Poland.
Piotr
P
Gorczyca
Agnieszka
A
Kapinos-Gorczyca
Katarzyna
K
Ziora
Joanna
J
Oświęcimska