Assessment of Neurologic Problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD / 대한소아신경학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental disorders. previous report have examined the neurologic problems both in ASD and ADHD. METHODS: We studied 49 children with ASD and 51 with ADHD who had visited our hospital's neuropsychiatric clinic from January 1999 to December 2008. We examined age, EEG abnormalities, developmental delays, and seizures in both groups. RESULTS: 1) The mean age of children diagnosed with ASD was 4 years while that for ADHD was 9 years (P=0.000). 2) The percentage of abnormal EEG in children with ASD was 54.5% and that for those with ADHD was 25.4% (P=0.027). 3) The percentage of developmental delays in children with ASD was 89.8% and that for those with ADHD was 39.2% (P=0.000). 4) The mean age of first seizure in children with ASD was 13 years and that for those with ADHD was 6 years (P=0.005). CONCLUSION: The percentage of abnormal EEG and developmental delay in children with ASD was more than in those with ADHD. The mean age of diagnosis in children with ASD was younger than in those with ADHD and the mean age of first seizure in children with ASD was older than in those with ADHD. The percentage children with ASD who exhibited normalized EEGs upon follow-up was greater than that for children with ADHD.