Brief Report: Intersection of Sets of Symptoms Between Congenital Blindness and ASD: Proposing of Differential Criteria

J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Jan;54(1):389-391. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05585-0. Epub 2022 May 20.

Abstract

To propose novel differential criteria of the DSM-5 for diagnosing transient Autistic-like behaviors in children with congenital blindness as a secondary condition. Most references indicate a significantly higher prevalence of autism in children with congenital blindness compared to sighted children. These behavioral symptoms may be transient Autism-like behaviors that should be diagnosed as a secondary condition. Differential criteria are proposed: gaining more adaptive responses to effective interventions; presenting more efficient adaptation to environmental changes; gaining improved use of language in a more typical manner; acquiring more mature interactions with family as well as with others and, proving more positive prognosis due to spontaneous maturity and life experiences. Decreasing false-positives and true-negatives in the assessment process and diagnosis of primary vs. secondary ASD and comorbid conditions. Developing novel assessment tools to distinguish between ASD and autism-like behaviors in the intersection area. Future revision of DSM publication may reconsider these proposed changes in diagnostic criteria.

Keywords: ASD criteria; Congenital blindness; DSM-5.

MeSH terms

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / epidemiology
  • Autistic Disorder*
  • Blindness
  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Prognosis