Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children referred to special needs clinic in Giza

Abstract

Abstract Background Little is known about the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among the population with disability in Egypt. Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of ASD and the variability of the ASD manifestations and severity highlight the importance of investigating the ASD comorbidities. Aim of work This analysis was to compare the prevalence of autism with that of other disabilities among children visiting the clinic for special needs and to explore possible comorbid disorders in this sample of Egyptian ASD participants. Methods The study included individuals who visited the clinic for special needs in Giza, affiliated to the National Research Centre, for nearly 4 years (2019 to 2022). They were subjected to full clinical evaluation. Autistic children were further subjected to scales for confirming diagnosis and severity evaluation. Results The results revealed that a total of 3555 individuals were referred to the clinic. The percentage of children who were diagnosed as having ASD was 22.5% (N = 803; age: 4.5 ± 2.4 years). The most common associated comorbidities with ASD were language and intellectual deficits (80.25%, 58.7%). Hearing impairment was the least common (0.75%). The scores of the childhood autism rating scale were higher in the groups with the comorbid disorders (p = 0.03 or < 0.0001). Conclusion The prevalence of ASD among children with disability varied from other countries. Comorbid disorders have led to increasing the severity of ASD. We emphasize that accurate and early diagnosis of autism is the key for proper management of cases.