ABSTRACT
Recognition facilitates access to genetic counselling and advice for parents regarding the risk of autism for siblings. The increased risk of autism occurs in severe visual impairment of a neurological cause, as opposed to impairment from structural anomalies of the anterior eye structure. Between four and six years of age, there was a greater improvement in social functioning than generally is seen in autism. The consequences of psychosocial deprivation on brain development have parallels with the effects of sensory impairment through the profound effects on the integration of language and social information and, hence, psychosocial and emotional function. The presence of intellectual disability, whether or not within the context of a genetic syndrome, is an important factor affecting the presentation and assessment of autism. Selective mutism is a complex; little understood and poorly described condition that is felt to be part of a spectrum of social anxiety conditions, reflecting a social anxiety and/or a more specific speech anxiety.
