Childhood vision impairment, hearing loss and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder.
BACKGROUND
Limited population-based data on prevalence of childhood vision impairment (VI) and hearing loss (HL), and their co-occurrence with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exists.


OBJECTIVE
To examine prevalence and characteristics of VI, HL and co-occurring ASD among 8-year-olds in metropolitan Atlanta 2000-2008.


METHODS
We used data from the population-based Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program. Prevalence, birth and parental characteristics, presence and severity of other co-occurring developmental disabilities, and age of earliest identification of ASD, were examined for children with VI and HL, by co-occurring ASD.


RESULTS
VI and HL prevalences were 1.2 and 1.3 per 1000 8-year-olds, respectively. Approximately 6-7% of children with VI or HL had co-occurring ASD. Children with VI or HL with co-occurring ASD differed from those without co-occurring ASD by select birth characteristics and the presence of other co-occurring DDs. The median age of earliest known ASD diagnosis was significantly later among children with VI and ASD compared to children with ASD without VI (79 vs. 56 months). Children with HL and ASD were first evaluated by a community provider significantly earlier than those with ASD without HL (40 vs. 50 months).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of co-occurring ASD with VI and HL is higher than the population prevalence of ASD. The significant delays in diagnosis of ASD in children with VI and lack of earlier diagnosis of ASD among children with HL despite earlier evaluation highlight the importance of developing screening tools for early identification of ASD among children with VI and HL.
Developmental Disabilities Branch, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E86, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; Association of University Centers on Disabilities, 1100 Wayne Ave. Suite 1000 Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
Vijaya
V
Kancherla
Kim
K
Van Naarden Braun
Marshalyn
M
Yeargin-Allsopp
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006309:Hearing; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities
Autism spectrum disorder; Children; Developmental disabilities; Hearing loss; Visually impaired