Table 3.
Obstetric, birth, developmental history, and current clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorders children (N = 844)
| All (N = 844) | Boys (N = 684) | Girls (N = 160) | p‐Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy duration in weeks, mean (SD) | 39.5 (1.48) | 39.6 (1.46) | 39.4 (1.52) | .23 |
| Prematurity (<37 weeks), No. (%) | 41 (5.1) | 29 (4.4) | 12 (7.7) | .095 |
| Obstetric complications | ||||
| Gestational diabetes, No. (%) | 72 (8.9) | 56 (8.5) | 16 (10.3) | .48 |
| Gestational hypertension, No. (%) | 26 (3.2) | 16 (2.4) | 10 (6.5) | .011 |
| Any gestational complication, No. (%) | 111 (13.7) | 84 (12.8) | 27 (17.4) | .13 |
| Birthweight, mean (SD) | 3,149 (565) | 3,174 (565) | 3,045 (556) | .017 |
| Birthweight <2,500 g, No. (%) | 56 (8.0) | 42 (7.4) | 14 (10.4) | .24 |
| C‐section delivery, No. (%) | 239 (29.5) | 192 (29.3) | 47 (30.5) | .76 |
| Postnatal complications | ||||
| Hypoxia, No. (%) | 45 (5.5) | 35 (5.3) | 10 (6.4) | .60 |
| Jaundice, No. (%) | 68 (8.4) | 58 (8.9) | 10 (6.4) | .32 |
| Any complication, No. (%) | 124 (15.1) | 101 (15.3) | 23 (14.4) | .77 |
| Motor delay | ||||
| Sitting ≥8 months, No. (%) | 60 (7.6) | 51 (7.9) | 9 (6.0) | .42 |
| Walking ≥18 months, No. (%) | 66 (8.4) | 52 (8.1) | 14 (9.5) | .57 |
| Language delay | ||||
| First words ≥24 months, No. (%) | 572 (75.1) | 461 (74.1) | 111 (79.3) | .20 |
| First phrases ≥33 months, No. (%) | 687 (91.4) | 552 (90.9) | 135 (93.1) | .40 |
| Developmental regression/loss of skills, No. (%) | 156 (19.4) | 133 (20.3) | 23 (15.3) | .17 |
| First parental concerns in months, mean (SD) | 24.5 (7.7) | 24.5 (7.7) | 24.5 (7.8) | .92 |
| Age at diagnosis in months, mean (SD) | 42.8 (15.1) | 43.0 (15.3) | 42.2 (14.3) | .59 |
| Delay between first parental concerns and age at diagnosis in months, mean (SD) | 18.4 (14.1) | 18.5 (SD = 14.3) | 17.9 (13.1) | .67 |
| Current clinical characteristics | ||||
| Language level | ||||
| Receptive language | ||||
| Poor to limited comprehension, No. (%) | 594 (71.0) | 480 (70.4) | 114 (73.5) | .43 |
| Expressive language | ||||
| Limited language, or nonverbal | 164 (19.4) | 122 (17.8) | 42 (26.3) | .015 |
| School functioning | ||||
| Reduced peer interactions, No. (%) | 117 (14.0) | 89 (13.0) | 28 (18.1) | .10 |
| Academic performance difficulties, No. (%) | 56 (7.0) | 45 (6.9) | 11 (7.4) | .83 |
| Has a learning disability, No. (%) | 687 (82.1) | 560 (82.1) | 127 (81.9) | .96 |
| Requires behavioral support at school, No. (%) | 172 (20.5) | 141 (20.7) | 31 (19.9) | .82 |
| Behavioral, emotional adjustment | ||||
| ADHD symptoms, No. (%) | 255 (30.2) | 213 (31.1) | 42 (26.3) | .22 |
| Aggression symptoms, No. (%) | 47 (5.6) | 37 (5.4) | 10 (6.3) | .68 |
| Anxiety symptoms, No. (%) | 93 (11.0) | 75 (11.0) | 18 (11.3) | .92 |
| Behavioral/emotional problem | ||||
| Any problem, No. (%) | 308 (36.5) | 256 (37.4) | 52 (32.5) | .24 |
| Two or more problems, No. (%) | 73 (8.6) | 57 (8.3) | 16 (10.0) | .50 |
| Sleeping problems, No. (%) | 74 (8.8) | 59 (8.6) | 15 (9.4) | .76 |
| Current interventions | ||||
| Psychotropic medication, No. (%) | 53 (6.5) | 41 (6.0) | 12 (7.5) | .48 |
| Speech/language therapy, No. (%) | 35 (4.1) | 29 (4.2) | 6 (3.8) | .78 |
| Behavior therapy, No. (%) | 38 (4.5) | 32 (4.7) | 6 (3.8) | .61 |
| Occupational therapy, No. (%) | 47 (5.6) | 41 (6.0) | 6 (3.8) | .26 |
| Special Need school, No. (%) | 108 (12.8) | 86 (12.6) | 22 (13.8) | .69 |
| Individualized school intervention, No. (%) | 102 (12.1) | 88 (12.9) | 14 (8.8) | .15 |