Research PaperChildhood vision impairment, hearing loss and co-occurring autism spectrum disorder
Section snippets
Data source
MADDSP uses a multiple source methodology for active population-based surveillance of five DDs including VI, HL, ASD, CP, and ID in five counties (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett) of metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Children are identified from record review at nine public school systems and selected private and public health sources that treat, diagnose, and/or serve children with DDs. Multiple records for a given child are compiled into one composite record which is then reviewed by
Vision impairment
The prevalence of VI during 2000–2008 was estimated as 1.2 per 1000 8-year-olds (95% CI = 1.1–1.4). Prevalence estimates across 2000–2008 were stable (p = 0.12) (data not shown). VI prevalence was higher among Hispanic children compared with White non-Hispanic children (p = 0.05), but did not differ significantly between boys and girls or between White and Black non-Hispanic children (Table 2). Sixty three percent of children with VI had at least another DD (including ASD, CP, ID, and/or HL).
Discussion
This is the first US population-based report detailing the frequency, presence, and timing of community identification of co-occurring ASD among children with VI or HL. Early identification of ASD is particularly important among children with sensory disabilities, as these children may require different or additional interventional approaches or both, relative to children with ASD, but without VI or HL. Furthermore, disparities in the timing of evaluation and diagnosis of children with VI or HL
Conclusions
In summary, our findings demonstrate that the frequency of co-occurring ASD among children with VI or HL has been stable over time, but consistently higher than ASD prevalence among 8-yr-olds in metropolitan Atlanta for 2000–2008. The delay found in the age of diagnosis for children with VI, and lack of earlier ASD diagnosis despite earlier evaluation among children with HL, underscore the need for development of valid and reliable diagnostic tools coupled with greater awareness of behaviors
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This work received no funding and was not presented at any conference.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest
Disclosure: The findings and conclusions of this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease and Prevention.