Seizures in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“Is it common for children with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism to have epileptic seizures? What signs should parents look for if they think their child may be having mild seizures?”

Some of the brain irregularities that are associated with autism spectrum disorders can contribute to seizures. These irregularities can cause changes in brain activity by interrupting neurons in the brain. Neurons are cells that process and transmit information and send signals to the rest of the body. So overloads or instabilities in the activity of these neurons can result in imbalances that cause seizures.

The reported prevalence of epilepsy among children on the autism spectrum disorders ranges from 11% to 39%. The prevalence of epilepsy was higher in studies that included teens and young adults, because the onset of epilepsy in autism spectrum disorders has 2 peaks: one before 5 years of age and another in the teenage years.

Epileptiform abnormalities on electroencephalography are common in kids on the spectrum, with reported frequencies ranging from 10% to 72%. Due to the increased prevalence of seizures in this population, a high index of clinical suspicion needs to be maintained, and electroencephalography should be considered when there are clinical spells that might represent seizures.

Characteristic symptoms include:

• Facial twitching
• Involuntary jerking of limbs
• Marked and unexplained irritability or aggressiveness
• Regression in normal development
• Severe headaches
• Sleepiness or sleep disturbances
• Stiffening of muscles
• Unexplained confusion
• Unexplained staring spells

There are several types of seizures, each with somewhat different symptoms:

• Absence seizures can be difficult to recognize. Also known as petit mal seizures, they are marked by periods of unresponsiveness. The child may stare into space. He may or may not exhibit jerking or twitching.
• Atonic seizures involve sudden limpness, or loss of muscle tone. The child may fall or drop her head involuntarily.
• Clonic seizures involve repeated jerking movements on both sides of the body. 
• Myoclonic seizures involve jerking or twitching of the upper body, arms or legs. 
• Tonic seizures involve muscle stiffening alone. 
• Tonic-clonic seizures are the most common. Also known as gran mal seizures, they produce muscle stiffening followed by jerking. Gran mal seizures also produce loss of consciousness.

If you suspect your child may be having seizures, find a neurologist that specializes in seizure disorders. The neurologist will order an electroencephalogram, which is a non-invasive process that involves the placing of electrodes on the child’s head in order to monitor activity in the brain. By analyzing the activity patterns, the neurologist can determine if the child is having seizures.

The Aspergers Comprehensive Handbook

Getting Inside the Head of a Child with High-Functioning Autism (HFA)

Don't over-estimate your Aspergers of HFA youngster's understanding of social situations just because of his high intellectual ability. He is a boy who needs to figure out how the real world works, one example at a time. 

Click here to use Mark Hutten, M.A. as your personal parent coach.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children on the Autism Spectrum

“Are there any natural or non-pharmaceutical ways to treat symptoms of high-functioning autism or Asperger syndrome?”

Alternative approaches to treating symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders do exist. One such approach is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), which is defined as “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.” CAM therapies used to treat Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) have been categorized as “biological” or “nonbiological.” Let’s look at each of these in turn…

Examples of biological therapies include:

• detoxification therapies (e.g., chelation)
• dietary supplement regimens that are supposed to act by modulating neurotransmission or through immune factors (e.g., vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and magnesium, folic acid, folinic acid, vitamin B12, dimethylglycine and trimethylglycine, carnosine, omega-3 fatty acids, inositol, various minerals, etc.)
• gastrointestinal treatments (e.g., digestive enzymes, antifungal agents, probiotics, yeast-free diet, gluten/casein-free diet, vancomycin)
• immunoregulatory interventions (e.g., dietary restriction of food allergens or administration of immunoglobulin or antiviral agents)

Examples of nonbiological interventions include treatments such as:

• music therapy
• facilitated communication
• dolphin-assisted therapy
• equine-assisted therapy
• craniosacral manipulation
• behavioral optometry
• auditory integration training

Moms and dads of kids with AS and HFA will understandably pursue interventions that they believe may offer some hope for symptom-relief, particularly if the therapies do not have any adverse side-effects. Unfortunately, parents are sometimes exposed to unconfirmed theories and related clinical practices that may be ineffective or, in worst case scenarios, lead to physical, emotional, or financial harm. Thus, always consult with your doctor before starting any new or unorthodox treatment approach.

The Aspergers Comprehensive Handbook