A prospective Cross-sectional Cohort Assessment of Health, Physical, and Behavioral Problems in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

OBJECTIVES Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnostically defined by impaired socialization/communication and stereotypical behaviors. Health, physical, and behavioral problems have also been described in subjects diagnosed with an ASD, but have usually been examined in isolation. The purpose of the present study was to for the first time, systematically and quantitatively, examines health, physical and behavioral problems in a cohort of subjects diagnosed with an ASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective cross-sectional ASD cohort (n=54) was evaluated for health, physical, and behavioral symptoms derived from parentally completed Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) forms. The study protocol received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval from Liberty IRB, Inc (Deland, FL). OUTCOMES The results showed the following occurrence of symptoms among study participants: gastrointestinal disturbances=48%, incontinence=57%, sleep problems=57%, eating disorders=94%, hyperactivity=67%, lethargy=26%, sensory processing problems=85%, anxiety/fear=74%, behavioral problems=89%, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors=92%. Of all of the areas examined, eating problems, behavioral problems, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors, were reported by the parents to be the most serious and problematic. CONCLUSIONS The present findings, taken together with previous research, suggest that subjects diagnosed with an ASD have significant health, physical, and behavioral problems beyond the symptoms evaluated in the diagnostic criteria used to diagnosis an ASD. The present findings also suggest the ATEC provides an economical means for healthcare providers to identify health, physical, and behavioral problems in subjects diagnosed with an ASD.