Evaluation of siblings of patients with autism and the effect of sibling number/order on disease severity

Abstract

Purpose: First aim of this study is comparing prenatal, natal and premorbid features of patients with autism and their typically development siblings; second aim is investigating the effect of sibling number and order on autism severity. Materials and Methods: 40 patients (mean age 89.83 +/- 42.91 months) and 18 siblings (mean age 136.12 +/- 64.02 months) were included in study. 6 patients who are the middle child and 1 patient with twin were not included of 40 patients. For the second part of study rest of 33 patients; who have no sibling/s (n: 6); only with older sibling/s (n = 16) and only with younger sibling/s (n: 11) were divided into three groups. The severity of autism symptoms of patients in these groups was compared. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was administered to determine the severity of the disease. Results: There were no significant differences between the patients and their siblings the variables associated with the prenatal period. The first walking, vocabulary, sentence formation and toilet training were significantly later in the patient group. Significant differences were found in terms of scores of visual response, tasting, touching and sniffing responses. Conclusion: Sibling relationship is important in autism. However it is clear that the symptom severity cannot be attributed only the number or order of siblings alonely which a lot of factors are involved in etiology of autism.