PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Al-Eithan, Muwafak H.
AU  - Balkhi, Sohair H.
AU  - Al-Bluwi, Amal M.
TI  - Autism and parents’ education. New data from the developing world
DP  - 2010 Apr 01
TA  - Neurosciences Journal
PG  - 97--100
VI  - 15
IP  - 2
4099  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/15/2/97.short
4100  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/15/2/97.full
SO  - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2010 Apr 01; 15
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the link between autism disorders and engineering training of parents.METHODS: All Autistic-Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) children that were diagnosed on the bases of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), and met the required criteria for autism, over a defined period (March 2006 to June 2007) were included. We then took all non-PDD developmental disorders cases seen during the same time frame as the autistic children as a control; these included speech delay, mental retardation, and Down’s syndrome. Our data covered demographic data, parents and grandparents’ education, and profession. Parents’ education/professions were classified into 2 groups only, 1-engineering or mathematician; and 2-humanities, neither engineering nor math. The children were divided into 2 groups, autism (57 cases), and developmental disorders (40 cases).RESULTS: Regarding the main question of this study (hypothesized engineering link), the data showed some differences between the 2 groups (x2=2.503, degrees of freedom [df]=1; p=0.093), but not of major significance. There was no significant difference (x2=0.370; df=2; p=0.831) between the 2 groups on the variable of consanguinity.CONCLUSION: We have found that the Saudi Arabian sample, though relatively small, has considerable similarities with both the UK and USA data. There is a possibility of an association between autism and the engineering/math training of fathers. The implication is briefly discussed.