RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Autism and parents’ education. New data from the developing world
JF Neurosciences Journal
JO Neurosciences (Riyadh)
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 97
OP 100
VO 15
IS 2
A1 Al-Eithan, Muwafak H.
A1 Balkhi, Sohair H.
A1 Al-Bluwi, Amal M.
YR 2010
UL http://nsj.org.sa/content/15/2/97.abstract
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.