Autism and Visual impairment: A First Approach to a Complex Relationship

Abstract

Since the first half of the 20th century there has been an interest in the study of the relationship between autism and autistic-like clinical features and with visual impairments. Autism Spectrum disorders are one of the more worldwide-studied neurodevelopmental disorder with an increasing prevalence in the last ten years. Visual impairment is a condition which derives from several causes (genetic, constitutional, injuries, nutritional and environmental ones). Again, it is a kind of spectrum and an overarching category, because visual impairments range from refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism), to amblyopia, strabismus, and to partial and total blindness. Since the first study of Keeler (1956) which described autistic-like patterns in five preschool children who were totally blind due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a growing number of researchers addressed the relationship between autism and visual impairment. In this paper we focused on it, aiming to discuss on some lessons learned in this field and to discuss some open questions since the first research in this field.

When Autism Spectrum Disorder is Associated with Blindness : Diagnostic Challenges and Management (Case Report)

“…Les spécialistes de l'autisme se retrouvent souvent en difficulté pour établir les symptômes caractéristiques du développement original des enfants déficients visuels, des symptômes qui relèvent réellement du trouble du spectre de l'autisme. La présence des traits de l'autismes, tels qu'une interaction sociale limitée, certains comportements restrictifs et répétitifs, ont été démontrés chez les enfants ayant une cécité congénitale [8]. Le diagnostic du TSA est clinique, sur la base d'une observation développementale et comportementale détaillée.…”

Children with autism spectrum disorders and severe visual impairments: Some general principles for intervention according to the perspective of clinical psychology of disability

“…Specific conferences and webinars aimed to spread general knowledge and to increase awareness in public are important as well. 10 …”

“…In the last decades, an increasing number of researchers addressed the relationship between autism and severe visual impairment (SVI) (like blindness or very low visual acuity) and autism could currently be considered one of the most commonly reported coexisting developmental disorders in children with blindness or other severe visual impairment. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] As ASD and SVI' signs and symptoms affect functioning and quality of life and different domains of functioning of children with this comorbidity, it is very important to support individuals and their families as soon as possible in the cycle of life and to promote specific interventions aimed to promote developmental potential of everyone with both ASD and VI, based on the unique balance between strengths, needs and abilities of everyone. 10 Children and individuals with SVI and ASD and SVI are a very heterogeneous group, both about the areas of social interaction, communication and behaviour, as well as about visual abilities and about all the other aspects of their neuropsychological and functional profiles that are influenced by their visual impairments itself, their ASD itself and the combination of them.…”

Visual Autism

“…This association has been long reported. In 1956, Keeler et al noted that 5/60 (8.3%) premature children with ROP and total blindness had autism [ 24 , 25 ]. Many of the other children with total blindness in this cohort had autistic traits.…”

“…Many of the other children with total blindness in this cohort had autistic traits. Since that time, ASD has been reported in association with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), Leber’s amaurosis (LCA), septo-optic nerve dysplasia, micro-ophthalmia, anophthalmia, and CHARGE syndrome [ 24 , 25 ]. In a prospective study describing children born over the course of a decade in Sweden, ASD was one of the most common additional impairments among children with early onset blindness, and the prevalence differed with diagnosis in children with optic nerve hypoplasia (70%), in children with ROP (58%), in children with microphthalmia/anophthalmia (44%), and in children with LCA (36%) [ 26 ].…”