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Oculomotor findings in autistic children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Ulf Rosenhall ,
Elisabeth Johansson  and
Christopher Gillberg
Ulf Rosenhall*
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology and Otolaryngology, Sahlgren's Hospital and The Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry, University of Goteborg, Sweden.
Elisabeth Johansson
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology and Otolaryngology, Sahlgren's Hospital and The Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry, University of Goteborg, Sweden.
Christopher Gillberg
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology and Otolaryngology, Sahlgren's Hospital and The Department of Child and Youth Psychiatry, University of Goteborg, Sweden.
*
Dr. Ulf Rosenhall, Dept of Audiology, Sahlgren's Hospital, S-413 45 Goteborg, Sweden.
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Abstract

Eleven children with infantile autism or autistic-like conditions were examined with oculomotor tests and with auditory brainstem response audiometry. Measurements of voluntary, horizontal non-predictable saccades showed that the eye motor function was abnormal in six (55 per cent) of the eleven patients. The saccades were hypometric in all six instances and the saccadic velocity was reduced in four instances. The abnormalities observed are consistent with brain dysfunction, in most cases probably indicating ponto-cerebellar involvement. In five instances ABR was found to be abnormal which indicates brainstem dysfunction. Oculomotor dysfunction and/or ABR abnormality was observed in eight (73 per cent) of the patients studied.

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 102 , Issue 5 , May 1988 , pp. 435 - 439
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1988

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Footnotes

This study was supported by a grant from the Foundation Tysta Skolan.

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