Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms.
Bibiana Restrepo, Kathleen Angkustsiri, Sandra L Taylor and 8 others
PMID 32767543WHAT IT FOUND
Preschoolers with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms showed more self-injury, sensory sensitivities, sleep issues, and aggression than those without GI symptoms.
These behavioral changes occurred regardless of cognitive level or sex, suggesting problem behaviors may signal physical discomfort in young children.
Key findings
01Children with ASD were significantly more likely to have GI symptoms than typically developing peers (47.8% vs 17.8%).
02The presence of GI symptoms was associated with more severe scores in self-injurious behavior, sensory sensitivities, sleep problems, attention problems, and aggressive behavior.
03In children with ASD, experiencing more GI symptoms was linked to increased severity of self-injury, decreased sleep duration, and parasomnias.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was predominantly Caucasian and from higher-income families, which may limit generalizability to more diverse populations. GI symptoms were assessed via parent report and physician interview, which may be less reliable in young children who cannot verbally communicate discomfort. The study design is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine if GI symptoms cause behavioral problems or if other factors contribute to both. Only a small subset of children with reported GI symptoms had a formal medical diagnosis, suggesting many cases were not clinically recognized or treated.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that all behavioral challenges in children with autism are due to GI symptoms. While this study found an association, it does not prove causation. Furthermore, many children with GI symptoms did not have a formal medical diagnosis, so relying solely on medical records may miss cases; however, this also means that not every child with GI symptoms will exhibit these specific behavioral profiles.