Gastrointestinal symptoms in a sample of children with pervasive developmental disorders.
Kids with ASD and GI pain act more irritable and anxious and learn less—so screen for constipation and diarrhea early.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at one clinic’s charts for kids with pervasive developmental disorders. They counted how many had tummy trouble. They also noted behavior ratings and how well the kids responded to treatment.
What they found
About one in four kids had GI problems like constipation or diarrhea. Those same kids scored higher on irritability, anxiety, and social withdrawal. Their treatment gains were also smaller.
How this fits with other research
Prosperi et al. (2017) saw the same link in preschoolers and added food selectivity. Leader et al. (2020) found even more feeding issues in a bigger sample. Peters et al. (2014) zoomed in on mixed bowel symptoms and tied them to rigid-compulsive behaviors. Together the papers show GI pain, picky eating, and behavior problems travel as a package in ASD.
Why it matters
If a learner is cranky, anxious, or stuck in rituals, rule out GI pain first. Ask parents about stool patterns and food refusal. A simple bowel plan or diet tweak can unlock better behavior gains in your next session.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Objective To evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) problems in a large, well-characterized sample of children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Methods One hundred seventy two children entering one of two trials conducted by the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network were assessed comprehensively prior to starting treatment and classified with regard to GI symptoms. Results Thirty nine (22.7%) were positive for GI problems, primarily constipation and diarrhea. Those with GI problems were no different from subjects without GI problems in demographic characteristics, measures of adaptive functioning, or autism symptom severity. Compared to children without GI problems, those with GI problems showed greater symptom severity on measures of irritability, anxiety, and social withdrawal. Those with GI problems were also less likely to respond to treatment.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2009 · doi:10.1007/s10803-008-0637-8