Vocal and motor behaviors as a possible expression of gastrointestinal problems in preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Table 4 Significant differences in ABQ scores between ASD children with and without GI symptoms, and between verbal and non-verbal subjects

	GI children n = 30	No-GI children n = 55	p ≤ 0.01* ≤ 0.001**	Verbal children n = 39	Non-verbal children n = 46	p ≤ 0.01* ≤ 0.001**
6-GI Scores	4.43 ± 1.28	0.82 ± 0.80	< 0.001**	1.74 ± 1.74	2.39 ± 2.16	NS
Total GSI Scores	6.73 ± 1.70	2.04 ± 1.53	< 0.001**	3.10 ± 2.38	4.20 ± 2.97	NS
Associated Behaviors
Total Score	14.21 ± 5.75	9.33 ± 6.03	0.001**
VB (overall score)	3.67 ± 2.29	2.55 ± 1.87	0.017
MB (overall score)	6.93 ± 4.31	4.87 ± 3.63	0.022
C (overall score)	2.67 ± 1.60	1.91 ± 1.59	0.039
Frequent clearing of throat, swallowing and/or tics				0.16 ± 0.44	0.53 ± 0.63	0.003
Sighing and/or whining	0.89 ± 0.63	0.53 ± 0.60	0.012
Moaning and/or groaning	0.78 ± 0.70	0.34 ± 0.52	0.002*	0.34 ± 0.48	0.62 ± 0.70	0.044
Facial grimacing	0.78 ± 0.58	0.31 ± 0.47	< 0.001**
Constant eating/drinking/swallowing	0.80 ± 0.82	0.22 ± 0.50	< 0.001**
Mouthing behaviors as chewing on clothes, pica				0.29 ± 0.56	0.64 ± 0.75	0.022
Application of pressure to abdomen	0.61 ± 0.79	0.25 ± 0.44	0.010*
Tapping behaviors	0.15 ± 0.36	0.02 ± 0.13	0.021
Sleep disturbances	1.21 ± 0.69	0.64 ± 0.78	0.001**

Abbreviations: GI Gastrointestinal, No-GI Non-Gastrointestinal, GSI Gastrointestinal Severity Index, VB Verbal behaviors, MB Motor behaviors, C Changes in overall state

ISSN: 1471-2431