Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences

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Neurological soft signs in autism spectrum disorder

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Original Article

Author Details : Juhi Anil Malviya*, Sushil Gawande, Abhijeet Faye, Vivek Kirpekar, Sudhir Bhave, Rahul Tadke

Volume : 12, Issue : 1, Year : 2022

Article Page : 57-60

https://10.18231/j.pjms.2022.011

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Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a phenotypically heterogeneous group of neurodevelopemental syndromes characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted & repetitive behavior. Neurological soft signs (NSS) are minor neurological abnormalities that aren’t a part of any fixed/transient neurological disorders. The most common NSS in ASD are motor incoordination, difficulty sequencing motor tasks & sensory disintegration.
Materials and Methods: 22 participants of ASD satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were assessed for NSS, using a semi structured performa & Heidelberg manual for neurological soft signs. The data was tabulated and analysed statistically.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 11.63 years with 82% males & 18% females. 100% participants had dysdiadochokinesia (82% -adiadochokinesia), errors in the finger-nose test(71% unable to perform), right-left confusion (39% -making gross errors), difficulty in tandem walking(70% -significant balance problems), difficulty in fist-edge-palm (54% unable to complete task) & ozeretski test (78%- unable to perform). 94% had difficulty in pronation-supination (56%-failed to complete exercise).89% of the participants had difficulty in finger –thumb opposition (63%- unable do it).
Conclusion: NSS are present in a significant amount of patients of ASD & such patients should be assessed for the full spectrum of NSS.
 

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, ASD, Neurological soft signs, NSS

How to cite : Malviya J A, Gawande S, Faye A, Kirpekar V, Bhave S, Tadke R, Neurological soft signs in autism spectrum disorder. Panacea J Med Sci 2022;12(1):57-60

Copyright © 2022 by author(s) and Panacea J Med Sci. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org)