title: The identification and measurement of autistic features in children with septo-optic dysplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia and isolated hypopituitarism.
abstract: This study aimed to highlight the occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). A cross-sectional study was designed, including 28 children with SOD and 14 children with ONH. Clinician diagnosis of ASD was reported in 14 children. The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) reported that 23 children met the cut-off point for ASD, and 9 children met the cut-off point for autism. Greater levels of intellectual disability and visual loss were reported in children with ASD in comparison to those without ASD, but, of the two, intellectual disability was a better predictor for ASD. The SCQ lost its sensitivity and specificity in children who had greater visual loss which highlights a requirement for a measure that is sensitive to visual loss. It is also recommended that children with SOD/ONH would benefit from routine screening for ASDs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychology, Birmingham City University, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jagjeet.jutley-neilson@bcu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jagjeet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jutley-Neilson
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000523:psychology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025962:Septo-Optic Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Autism; Autistic spectrum disorders; Blindness; Hypopituitarism; Optic nerve hypoplasia; Septo-optic dysplasia; Visual impairment