CHILDREN who snore or fiddle with their ears a lot are more likely to be autistic, a study shows.
Common ear, nose, and throat issues were up to three times more likely in children with the developmental disorder, Bristol University researchers found.
The issues, which also include ear infections and sleep apnoea, could be more regular because of differences in autistic people’s ear positioning, they said.
Dr Jean Golding said: “Early ear and upper respiratory symptoms are more common in those subsequently diagnosed with autism.
“These ear and respiratory signs may be early markers of increased risk of autism.
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“They may inform the origins of autism.”
Around 700,000 Brits live with autism, according to the National Autistic Society.
The lifelong condition affects people in different ways, often causing difficulties with social communication and interaction.
Autistic people are also more likely to prefer strict routines, such as eating the same food every day, be sensitive to sound light or touch and be highly focused on interests or hobbies.
Scientists are not sure what exactly causes the disorder, but a family history, older parents and pregnancy or birth complications can all increase the risk.
Previous studies have linked it to ear, nose, and throat issues (ENT), although these were based on medical records.
Experts could not be sure whether the link was being caused by a higher diagnosis rate, given autistic children are more likely to see their doctor more frequently anyway.
The latest research, published in BMJ Open, got round this by looking at data from a large medical trial.
It studied more than 10,000 young children born in England since the 1990s, of which 177 had a ”probable” autism diagnosis.
Autistic children were 3.3 times more likely to have “glue ear” symptoms or an ear infection and 2.2 times more likely to have hearing loss during a cold at 30 months.
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Pulling or poking at ears was 3.8 times more likely at 40 months, while the chances of snoring were 1.9 times as likely by the same age.
Dr Amanda Roestorf, of Autistica, said: “The study provides interesting insights into the potential association between ENT symptoms and autism.
“Autistic children are more likely to experience problems and physical health conditions related to ear infections, auditory sensitivities and hearing problems.
“The study findings provide a basis for considering treatment pathways for ENT problems in autistic children in general practice and secondary care.”
What are the eight common common ear, nose, and throat issues linked to autism?
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Sleep apnoea
- Pulling at ears
- Ears red and sore
- Pus/mucus from ears
- Hearing worse during cold
- Rarely listens