Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complicated disorder. Up to 50% of its variance could be related to environmental factors.
Aim: Environmental risk factors for ASD were studied among cases and controls. Additionally, the effects of some targeted interventional approaches on the severity of ASD and language abilities were compared.
Methodology: This study was conducted on 61 autistic children (3-12 years) who visited the outpatient clinic for “Children with ASD" from September 2021 to February 2022. They were subjected to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and the Arabic Preschool Language Scale. The control subjects (N=62) were selected from volunteers. A questionnaire was designed for studying the environmental risk factors. Children with ASD were then divided into two groups: Group a (N=30) received phoniatric therapy; Group b (N=31) received phoniatric therapy and dietary supplementation. After 3 months, both groups were reassessed.
Results: Risk factors such as maternal exposure to disinfectants and cleaners (78.7%), moderate maternal (39.3 %) and paternal (47.5 %) educational level, pregnancy in Summer (19.6%), delivery in Spring (19.6%) and prematurity (91.8%), showed significant statistical difference between cases and control subjects (P=0.01,0.00,0.04,0.00 respectively). Following intervention, the severity of ASD decreased (P=0.00) and there was a significant difference regarding receptive, expressive, and total language ages (P=0.00,0.01,0.00 respectively) between the two groups.
Conclusions: There were a variety of environmental risk factors associated with ASD. Merging phoniatric therapy and dietary supplements was an effective management option for children with ASD.
Keywords: Autism, Environment, Risk factors, Intervention.