Autismspektrumtillstånd vid svår CP upptäcks ofta sent. Retrospektiv genomgång av 10 års journaler
Sammanfattning
The aim of the present study was to describe clinical findings in a study of children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) and a newly
rendered diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 64 children with CP and severe motor dysfunction were admitted to Folke
Bernadotte regional habilitation for investigation of their communication. Upon investigation ten of those children received a new
diagnosis of ASD. Despite typical early signs and symptoms of ASD, most of those children were not diagnosed until school age. The
children with ASD had significantly more early problems with feeding, sleeping and irritability compared with the children without ASD. In
children with severe CP, problems with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication may be overlooked or regarded as a part
of the disability, so a diagnosis of ASD may go unnoticed. Early diagnosis of ASD in children with severe CP is extremely important for
providing those children with optimal opportunities to develop.