Autism Can Be Diagnosed in Down Syndrome

"Our study findings support the existence of well-delineated behavior clusters in children with DS, and in our clinic we have witnessed educational success when these issues are recognized and addressed. Pediatricians can do families a great service by recognizing that a coexisting neurobehavioral condition may be present," said Dr. Capone of the department of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, who is also director of the Down syndrome clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, both in Baltimore. With proper evaluation and treatment, he noted, children with DS and disruptive behaviors or ASD can benefit from a combination of medication and behavior management, in addition to an educational program emphasizing functional communication and social skills development.

The study was supported in part by grants from Autism Speaks, a nonprofit association. The researchers had no relevant financial conflicts disclosures.