Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Child with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are separate complex and heterogeneous disorders resulting from a range of etiologies impacting early brain development. Both CP and ASD are clinical descriptive terms that encompass many etiologies. At the intersection of CP and ASD, there are individuals that meet criteria for both of these disorders. Although CP has a defining focus on movement and posture and ASD is defined by difficulties in social communication, these distinct clinically defined disorders share many associated features. Further, the diagnostic evaluation of ASD may be uniquely challenging in children with CP depending upon their level of motor functioning. This chapter will explore the relationship between CP and ASD including incidence, causative factors, evaluation, and management of both clinical disorders.