| pubmed-article:9307927 | pubmed:abstractText | Case histories of autistic twins with absence seizures are presented. The boys had autistic features prior to the onset of seizures during their second year of life. By age 3 years, the twins were significantly delayed in the areas of socialization, communications and impulse control. Typical autistic features were pronounced, including perseverative, nonpurposeful and self-stimulatory behaviors; lack of symbolic play; poor eye contact; echolalic and noncommunicative speech; and unresponsiveness to disciplinary efforts. The absence seizures, although first observed by the parents early in the twins' second year, were not diagnosed until age 3 years 1 month. The seizures consisted of 50-60 staring spells per day. Both boys responded to valproic acid treatment with control of their seizures and with a dramatically accelerated rate of acquisition of both language and social skills. A possible causal relationship between autism and absence seizures in these children is explored. | lld:pubmed |
