Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Children with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Autistic features unless at the level of syndrome are usually ignored in people with intellectual disabilities. It is more evident as the severity of intellectual disabilities increases. The present study was designed to assess the type and severity of autistic features among children with intellectual disabilities. Fifty children with intellectual disabilities, aged 3 to 18 years, were recruited from a local special school as well as the outpatient services of a tertiary psychiatric hospital by using purposive sampling. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Seguin Form Board, Gilliam Autism Rating Scale were used for assessment. Results indicate that 84% of the participants had very low to below average autistic features while 6% (n=3) had scores above the cutoff suggesting a possible comorbidity of autism spectrum disorder. All core features of autism spectrum disorder such as stereotype behaviours, communication, social interactions and developmental concerns were noted in the study group in the range of 8 to 10%. Developmental concerns shared a significant negative correlation with the intellectual level (r=-.28; p <.05). The study implies that children with intellectual disabilities can have autistic features independent of comorbid diagnosis of autism and they need appropriate interventions to manage the same.