FEATURES OF HIGHER CORTICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

<p><em><span>Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children hold significant relevance both in neurology and psychiatry. The reasons for this include their relatively high prevalence, the lack of unified concepts regarding etiology and pathogenesis, as well as the challenges of accurate diagnosis and comprehensive corrective therapy. Cognitive impairments, according to many authors, accompany this pathology and are observed in every second affected child. The present article provides an analysis of the occurrence of higher cortical function disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders.</span></em></p> <p><em><span>In the study, 240 children aged 3 to 11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were examined. Children aged 3 to 6 years accounted for 40.4% of the patients, while 59.5% of the patients examined were aged 7 to 11 years. Neuropsychological assessment was conducted using integrative neuropsychological testing, employing an adapted examination methodology by A.R. Luria for pediatric neurologists. The analysis of the testing allowed for a clearer understanding of the severity of cognitive impairments in this category of patients, revealing a diffuse disorganization of optimal brain functioning. This was reflected in severe speech and socio-behavioral disorders.</span></em></p>