Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the possible association between maternal chemical intolerance as a risk factor for Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Methods: A case-control study was used to test the hypothesis that mothers of children with AD/HD or ASD would score higher on the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI©)—a validated tool for diagnosing chemical intolerance—than mothers whose children do not have either ASD or AD/HD. Mothers with (n=183) and without (n=146) AD/HD children, and mothers with (n=282) and without (n=72) ASD children participated in separate surveys.
Results: Compared to control mothers, case mothers had significantly higher mean scale scores for Chemical Intolerance (p < .001), Other Intolerances (food, drug, caffeine, alcohol etc.) (p=.006), and Symptoms (p<.001) on the QEESI.
Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest a possible association between maternal chemical intolerance, ADHD and ASD. Further, if this association is confirmed by additional studies, the QEESI© may be a useful screening tool to identify mothers at risk for having children with AD/HD and autism, and to reduce this risk through early education and intervention—i.e., removal of suspect exposures prior to and during pregnancy.
See more of: Epidemiology
See more of: Prevalence, Risk factors & Intervention