The Effect of Age and Birth Order on Speech and Learning on Autistic Children in Thi-Qar Governorate

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD ) are broad spectrum of conditions characterized by impairment in reciprocal social communication and interaction and restricted , repetitive patterns of behavior ,language and interest .                        Aim: To assess the effect of age on speech and learning among autistic children, and to find out the relationship between mean birth order and its effect on speech and learning .                                                                    Patients and methods :   A prospective  case study was conducted at  Thi-Qar governorate , south of Iraq through the period from January 2018 to May 2019 .The study involved 70 autistic child (50 boys and 20 girls) from Thi-Qar autistic children center at Al-Nassiryah city . Specialized designed questionnaire used including gender , age at time of present study , order in the family ,speech ( any non-fluent speech considered speech defect )  and learn defect and finally the residence of patients either from Al-Nassiriyah center or from the  periphery .The data was collected by direct interview in the presence of one or both parents . Statistical tests used including : the mean ,slandered deviation ( S. D ) , a NOVA test and P value ( < 0.05 significant ). Result : Among 70  autistic child , 50 ( 71.4% ) were boys and 20 ( 28.6%) were girls. The mean age for boys were( 5.3 years) and (6 years ) for girls .The mean birth order for boys was  ( 2.6 ) and ( 2.9 ) for girls . Among autistic children  56 ( 80% ) with speech defect with mean age ( 5.1 years ) , while 14 ( 20% ) without speech defect with mean age ( 7 years ) .The mean birth order for autistic children with speech defect was  ( 2.9 ) ,while the mean only ( 2  ) for those without speech defect .   Among autistic children 47 ( 67% ) were with learn defect with mean age ( 5.5 years ) , while 23 ( 33% ) were without learn defect with mean age ( 5.4 years ) .The mean birth order for autistic children with learn defect was ( 2.8 ),while only ( 2.4 ) for those without learn defect . Most autistic children from Al-Nassiriyah 35( 50% ) , 19 ( 27.1 ) from Shatra , 6 ( 8.6% ) from Suq Al-Sheyokh , from Al-Rifae 5 ( 7.1% ), 2 ( 2.9% ) from Cheybaish and three cases( 4.3% 0 from other areas .                                                                                                                            Conclusion: Autism more in boys than girls similar to those reported by other studies .  Boys diagnosed earlier than girls and most of autistic children suffering from speech and learn defect .Mean age was significant for those with speech defect , while not for those with learn defect . Mean birth order was significant in autistic children with speech defect while not for those with learn defect . fifty percent of our cases were from central of  Thi-Qar governorate .