Prevalencia del Trastorno del Espectro Autista en los escolares urbanos de la ciudad de Loja, año lectivo 2016 – 2017

Abstract

World prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders – ASD is on the rise and no one is sure why. In our country, there has only been one study on the subject. The study was of non-experimental type, exploratory-descriptive reach and transversal, using primary and secondary sources (direct assessment and information requests to public and private entities). Data from schoolchildren of Loja City between 5 to 12 years of age. Direct assessments were done using: observation, guided and free game, psychological interview, Denver Neurodevelopmental Scale II, Raven Colored Matrixes Test, Child Autism Rating Scale, Hospital attention file, personality projective tests (family, under the rain and CAT-A), hospital psychological brief and file from Red Virtual Autismo Ecuador. A prevalence of between 5 to 14 cases per 10.000 inhabitants is established and characteristics of the individuals with ASD and possible correlations that might exist between these features (diagnosis and age of first words, language issues and preterm birth).