Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Limited role for routine EEG in the assessment of staring in children with autism spectrum disorder
  1. Rebecca Hughes1,
  2. Wai-Yan Poon1,
  3. A Simon Harvey1,2
  1. 1Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
  2. 2Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr A Simon Harvey, Neurology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; simon.harvey{at}rch.org.au

Abstract

Aim The assessment of staring episodes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is difficult due to the range of diagnostic possibilities, the increased frequency of epileptiform activity on electroencephalogram (EEG), and the inability of normal EEG to exclude seizures. We reviewed the diagnostic use of routine EEG in this setting.

Method The routine EEG database of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne was searched for recordings during 2005–2010 in children with ASD below 16 years of age who were referred for staring. EEG reports and recordings were reviewed and epileptiform activity was characterised.

Results Ninety-two EEGs in children with ASD were requested for episodes of staring. No child had absence or focal dyscognitive seizures confirmed on EEG. Findings were normal or showed non-epileptiform abnormalities in 80 children. Interictal epileptiform abnormalities were recorded in 12 children, but were judged potentially significant in only three. Seven children had epileptiform activity typical of benign focal epilepsy of childhood, such discharges seen not uncommonly in developmentally normal and delayed children without seizures.

Interpretation Given the difficulties of performing EEG in children with ASD, the low yield of positive diagnostic findings and the high frequency of insignificant abnormalities, we suggest that EEG should be undertaken judiciously when evaluating children with ASD and staring episodes.

  • Neurology
  • Autism

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Linked Articles

  • Atoms
    R Mark Beattie