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Attention deficits and autistic spectrum problems in children exposed to alcohol during gestation: a follow‐up study
Author(s) -
Aronson Marita,
Hagberg Bibbi,
Gillberg Christopher
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1997.tb07493.x
Subject(s) - psychology , asperger syndrome , autism spectrum disorder , fetal alcohol syndrome , psychiatry , developmental psychology , perception , pregnancy , autism , clinical psychology , pediatrics , medicine , neuroscience , biology , genetics
Children born to mothers who had abused alcohol throughout pregnancy had severe behavioural and intellectual problems which remained at age 11 to 14 years. Of 24 children examined, 10 had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with or without developmental coordination disorder, two had Asperger syndrome, and one had an autistic‐like condition not meeting the criteria for Asperger syndrome. Six of these 24 attended special schools for the mentally retarded and a further 11 were given special education, leaving only seven attending regular schools without any type of support. The children had difficulties in mathematics, logical conclusions, visual perception, spatial relations, short‐term memory, and attention. Sixteen children lived in foster homes. There was a clear correlation between the occurrence and severity of the neuropsychiatric disorder and the degree of alcohol exposure in utero.