Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher probability of developing co-occurring mental or physical health conditions. However, little is known about how these health conditions develop and impact the lives of the adult ASD population. This paper reviewed existing studies concerning factors affecting the health status…

Background: People with epilepsy (PWE) have a higher fracture risk than nonepilepsy populations. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) cause bone loss. Limited physical activity and poor dietary intake increase fracture risk in PWE. People with an intellectual disability have higher prevalence of epilepsy, likely to be on multiple AEDs, with poorer response,…

The "22q11.2 duplication" is a variably penetrant copy number variant (CNV) associated with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and epilepsy. Here, we report on pathogenic "HUWE1" and "KIF1A" mutations in two severely affected ASD/ID participants carrying a 22q11.2…

The Autism Dysmorphology Measure is designed for non-expert clinicians. It uses an algorithm to assess 12 body regions and categorizes Autism on the number of dysmorphic regions identified; Essential ([less than or equal to] 3), Equivocal (4-5) or Complex ([greater than or equal to] 6). We evaluated 200 Indian children with Autism (mean age…

Although epilepsy commonly presents with autism in children, it is currently unknown whether established estimates represent the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in autistic adults. Our objective was to use population-level Medicaid data to determine prevalence, incidence, and antiepileptic drug use associated with epilepsy in a unique…

Aerophagia is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by excessive swallowing of air associated with abdominal distension and pain, flatulence, belching, nausea, and vomiting. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an antecedent-based behavioral intervention on aerophagia with an adolescent female…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder experience a significant number of co-occurring medical conditions, yet little is known about these conditions beyond prevalence. Using large-scale de-identified medical records, we can use a novel phecode-based tool to characterize co-occurring conditions in autism spectrum disorder. We hypothesized that…

Background: Reliable and valid screening instruments for depression and anxiety are needed for adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Internal consistency (n = 198), inter-rater reliability (n = 41), test-retest reliability (n = 37) and criterion validity (n = 43) were studied in adults aged between 18 and 49 years. Internal consistency…

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in South Africa is unknown and, to date, very little research has been performed within school systems that could inform the rates, distribution and profile of needs of children with autism spectrum disorder in education. We performed a comprehensive database search of all children with autism spectrum…

Background: As both epilepsy and challenging behaviour are highly prevalent in adults with intellectual disability (ID) it is important to explore any potential relationships between the two to inform patient care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between epilepsy factors and challenging behaviour in adults with ID.…

With increasing numbers of children being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) attention has been drawn to these children's physical health. We aimed to identify the prevalence of defined physical problems (epilepsy, migraine, asthma, cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, diarrhea, constipation, daytime…

Background Little is known about the health needs of people with intellectual disabilities who access out-of-hours primary care services, raising concerns about accessibility and quality of care for this group. This study aims to identify commonly presented health problems of people with intellectual disabilities in this specific setting compared…

Purpose: Cognition and language difficulties are frequently reported in both children and adults with epilepsy. The majority of the existing research has focused on pediatric epilepsy, documenting impairments in learning, academics, and social-emotional functioning. In comparison, language deficits in younger and older adults with epilepsy have…

Children with disabilities demonstrate fewer complex pretend play behaviors than children with typical development, which might limit their social participation in early childhood settings. A multiple-probe design was used to examine the relation between a single prompt procedure--constant time delay--and the acquisition, maintenance, and…

This article sheds light on how chronic health conditions impact upon concepts of inclusion in children's early childhood education and care in England; it draws upon findings from a small-scale research project which highlights the need to consider health, in particular, the impact of chronic health conditions on early childhood education and…