Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and joint hypermobility (JH) are considered two different etiological and clinical entities that most often appear in childhood. Despite growing increased research showing a co-occurrence for both conditions, a link between them is rarely established in clinical settings, and the relationship between ASD and JH has not so far been completely investigated in all age groups of ASD children. This preliminary study examined a cohort of 67 non-syndromic ASD children aged 2–18 years (sex ratio M:F = 12:1) showing different degrees of cognitive impairment and autism severity, using the Beighton scale and its revised version. A total of 63% of ASD patients aged 2–4 years and 73% of ASD patients aged ≥5 years presented significant scores of hypermobility. No significant correlation was found comparing total laxity score and cognitive assessments and severity of autistic symptomatology (p > 0.05). The results suggest that JH could be considered as a clinical characteristic of ASD patients and it needs to be assessed in order to schedule a better rehabilitation program.

Background/Objectives: Alterations in immunoinflammatory activation may constitute a pathogenetic mechanism in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Blood cell count (CBC) parameters and hematological inflammatory indices (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio) are now assuming a greater role as potential biomarkers for NDDs. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we gathered data on 135 medication-free individuals aged 6 to 17 years: 90 with NDDs (34 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 29 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 14 with intellectual disability, and 13 with tic disorder) and 45 typically developed controls. The variables analyzed were compared using analysis of variance including Bonferroni posthoc testing for pairwise comparisons Significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: The analysis of variance revealed statistical significance for all evaluated CBC parameters, as well as for the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. Notably, subjects with ASD exhibited increased values of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils compared to both typically developing subjects and other NDDs. The lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio was found to be lower in the tic disorder group compared to typically developing subjects. The elevated lymphocyte and monocyte levels in ASD subjects might reflect chronic low-grade inflammation. Conclusions: Consistent with the evidence in literature, statistically significant differences between the NDD group and typically developed subjects in the CBC parameters were found. The principal limitations of this investigation are the restricted sample size and the exclusion of specific NDD subtypes. Future research is needed to evaluate CBC parameters and inflammatory indices in a broader spectrum of NDDs to better understand the immunoinflammatory response specific to each disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, alongside restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior and interests. Individuals on the autism spectrum exhibit increased psychopathological vulnerability, with a high incidence of comorbid conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma-related symptoms. Trauma-related symptoms appear to be highly prevalent in ASD, though they are frequently underestimated. Furthermore, autistic individuals face numerous risk factors that increase their exposure to traumatic experiences and relational trauma. It is also likely that there is an autism-specific vulnerability regarding the perceived traumatic impact of certain events. This paper presents the clinical case of a young autistic woman with no intellectual or language impairment, comorbid social-performance anxiety, and pathogenic schemas associated with relational trauma. The patient was treated with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy sessions, employing protocol modifications tailored to the ASD condition. Currently, studies on the use of EMDR in ASD are limited; the primary barrier to its application often stems from challenges in adapting the technique to the specific needs of autistic patients. Therefore, further research is essential—not only to evaluate the efficacy of EMDR in ASD but, crucially, to refine and adapt the standard protocol to address the specific requirements and challenges of this condition.

Background and Objectives: Sensory anomalies are a distinctive feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) individuals and appear to differ in intensity, frequency, and subtype between male and female subjects. According to the diagnostic framework of the DSM-5-TR, these sensory patterns are key clinical indicators. The objectives of this study were to investigate sensoriality in ASD, to compare sensory profiles in ASD subjects of both sexes and evaluate potential correlations with clinical profiles. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 ASD participants were enrolled at the Children and Adolescents Neuropsychiatry Department of the University of Naples Federico II. The population was assessed through psychometric (cognitive and adaptive levels, and intensity of autism symptoms) and sensory characterization (using the Short Sensory Profile questionnaire). Subsequently, a Mann–Whitney U test was performed to evaluate differences in sensory profiles between males and females. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess significant associations between the sensory profile and cognitive level, adaptive level, and ASD symptom intensity. Subsequently, for the correlations that emerged as significant, an analysis was performed using a General Linear Model (GLM), including age and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) as covariates in the model. Results: No statistically significant differences in the sensory profile emerged between male and female subjects. Sensory anomalies do not appear to be correlated with cognitive level. Although some statistically significant correlations emerged between the sensory profile, the AQ, and the ADOS-2 comparison score, these results were not confirmed after a GLM analysis was performed using the participants’ age and IQ as covariates. Conclusions: The observed results appear partially in line with the existing literature. Following the GLM analysis, it was further observed that variables such as age and IQ play a crucial role in interpreting the functional profile of individuals with ASD. At present, the study has several limitations (the exclusive use of parent-report instruments, an observational design, the lack of a control group) which could affect the robustness of the observed findings. Therefore, further studies are deemed necessary to better define the sex-specific sensory characteristics of ASD individuals.