Researchers looked at data from over 10,000 young children aged between birth and 4 years old from Bristol’s Children of the 90s study, to investigate whether early ear and upper respiratory signs are associated with the development of autistic traits. The team analysed responses to three questionnaires in which mothers had recorded the frequency of nine different signs and symptoms relating to the ears, hearing problems and upper respiratory system when their child was aged 18 to 42 months.
Their results found the frequency of these symptoms was associated with high scores on each of the autism traits: social communication, coherent speech, sociability and repetitive behaviours, plus those with a clinical diagnosis of autism. Pus or sticky mucus discharge from the ears was especially associated with autism (an increased risk of 3.29) and for impaired hearing during a cold (an increased risk of 2.18).
Paper: ‘Associations between autistic traits and early ear and upper respiratory signs: a prospective observational study of the ALSPAC geographically defined childhood population’ by Hall A. et al. in BMJ Open [open access]