Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors in autism spectrum disorders and frontal epilepsy: clinical case discussion

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a prevalence of 1-2% among the world's child population and belong to the spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders. ASD are characterized by significant genetic and clinical polymorphism, in particular comorbidity with neurological and mental disorders. In 15 - 30% of children with ASD, epilepsy is diagnosed throughout life. Repeated movements and vocalizations in ASD are often similar and require differential diagnosis with motor and vocal phenomena in the structure of epileptic seizures, with motor and vocal tics, in particular with Tourette's disorder, obsessions and compulsions in obsessive-compulsive disorder. The polymorbidity of ASD complicates the typology of recurring motor and vocal phenomena. Polymorphism of repetitive movements and vocalizations is also inherent in developmental encephalopathy.