Open AccessNeurological soft signs in autism spectrum disorder
Author(s) -
Juhi Anil Malviya,
Sushil Gawande,
Abhijeet Faye,
Vivek Kirpekar,
Sudhir Bhave,
Rahul Tadke
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
panacea journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2348-7682
pISSN - 2249-8176
DOI - 10.18231/j.pjms.2022.011
Subject(s) - medicine , autism spectrum disorder , audiology , pediatrics , autism , physical medicine and rehabilitation , confusion , physical therapy , psychiatry , psychology , psychoanalysis
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a phenotypically heterogeneous group of neurodevelopemental syndromes characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted & repetitive behavior. Neurological soft signs (NSS) are minor neurological abnormalities that aren’t a part of any fixed/transient neurological disorders. The most common NSS in ASD are motor incoordination, difficulty sequencing motor tasks & sensory disintegration. 22 participants of ASD satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed for NSS, using a semi structured performa & Heidelberg manual for neurological soft signs. The data was tabulated and analysed statistically. The mean age of the participants was 11.63 years with 82% males & 18% females. 100% participants had dysdiadochokinesia (82% -adiadochokinesia), errors in the finger-nose test(71% unable to perform), right-left confusion (39% -making gross errors), difficulty in tandem walking(70% -significant balance problems), difficulty in fist-edge-palm (54% unable to complete task) & ozeretski test (78%- unable to perform). 94% had difficulty in pronation-supination (56%-failed to complete exercise).89% of the participants had difficulty in finger –thumb opposition (63%- unable do it). NSS are present in a significant amount of patients of ASD & such patients should be assessed for the full spectrum of NSS.