title: Exploring Health Situation of Indian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) in an Urban Area of Odisha: A Case Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex behavioural disorder in children with uncertain aetiology. Gastrointestinal metabolites have direct impact on brain function with possible role in its causation. Data on burden of Autism in India is sparse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the extent of social, communication and behavioural impairment among children suffering from ASD patientsin Odisha.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study design was used to assess 20 children with ASD in Odisha using an autism treatment evaluation checklist to understand the extent of social, communication and behavioural impairment in them. Of these, 72% children were diagnosed with ASD within 2 to 2.5 years of age and 38.9% patients suffered from diarrhoea together with constipation at the time of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was moderate impairment in, subclasses I (Speech/language/ communication), II (sociability), III (sensory/ cognitive awareness) and overall score but mild impairment in subclass IV (i.e., health/ physical/behaviour). Possibly, the training programme of the school had positive impact on the behaviour and the health component. Severity of scores in subclasses was less in older children. There is need for training in order to improve the communication and social interaction domain of these children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has provided valuable insight into the health situation of children with ASD. The study has been carried out using ATEC checklist. It points towards the need for training in order to improve the communication and social interaction domain of these children. It also reinforces the necessity to carry out further studies to explore possible link of gastrointestinal metabolites in causing ASD and age related changes in ATEC score of these children.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Community, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Preetam B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Prabhas Ranjan
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Biswa Ranjan
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Sushil Chandra
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
authors.affiliation: Additional Professor, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar, India .
authors.forename: Pranati
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nanda
keywords: Behavioural disorder; Body mass index; GI disorder
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