CALL: (888) 972-7736
Autistic children frequently suffer from treatment-resistant epilepsy
By Staff Writer
 According to a recent study published in the journal Epilepsia, the prevalence of treatment-resistant epilepsy may be higher among individuals with idiopathic autism than in other demographics. The study's results showed that more than one-third of autistic participants suffered from chronic cases of epilepsy, compared to 39 percent of subject who experienced infrequent seizures and 28 percent who did not endure negative effects. Researchers noted that kids who displayed early episodes of seizing and those who exhibited overall delays in linguistic capabilities and development were more likely to be diagnosed with treatment-resistant epilepsy. Autistic subjects who did not respond to at least two different treatments, including surgical interventions, were classified as having the incurable disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys are as much as five times more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder than girls. The organization estimates that about 730,000 Americans under the age of 21 are autistic. Children who are autistic and also have coexisting medical conditions may benefit from attending therapeutic boarding schools where they may live and learn alongside peers in similar situations.
|