PRECOCIOUS DIAGNOSTIC ELEMENTS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition characterized mainly by the presence of disorders and alterations in some specific behavioral domains, such as social development, communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors. This retrospective study aimed to identify the early symptoms and clinical features in a group of ASD children. Materials and methods: A sample of 79 children participated in the study (68 males and 11 females; age ranged between 13 months and 8.3 years). All participants were administered the ADOS-2, a clinical and standardized assessment tool, based on behavioral observation of ASD subjects. Results: Frequency analysis of the results evidenced significant impairments in some specific areas investigated, such as eating and sleeping disorders, deficits in the language and in social communication, delay in motor development, autonomic and executive dysfunctions. Conclusion: Detecting these deficits and the knowledge of these diagnostic elements at a very early stage of development could therefore have a significant impact on clinical practice for planning of the efficient rehabilitation programs and suitable interventions for ASD children.