New Insights into Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Autism Spectrum Disorder and its Comorbidities

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a significant and complex challenge in pediatric healthcare, marked by a rising prevalence and a profound impact on the health and quality of life of affected children from infancy through school age. ASD often presents alongside a range of comorbid conditions, including other neurodevelopmental disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep disorders, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and neurological diseases like epilepsy. This comorbidity adds layers of complexity to diagnosis and treatment, compounded further by the variability in symptoms across different ages and genders.

This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of ASD and its numerous comorbidities. We seek to explore the full spectrum of early identification and intervention strategies that can lead to better health outcomes. Moreover, this issue aims to delve into the mechanisms behind ASD and its associated conditions, aiming to unravel the intertwined clinical manifestations that complicate the effective management of these patients.

To gather further insights in the pediatric neurodevelopmental domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Prevalence surveys and demographic studies of autism
• Innovations in early screening and diagnostic methods for autism
• Intervention strategies for ASD at various developmental stages
• Comprehensive reviews of ASD comorbidities with neurodevelopmental, mental, and neurological disorders
• Mechanistic studies and hypotheses on the interactions between ASD and its comorbidities

In particular, submissions of original research and systematic reviews, both qualitative and quantitative, are encouraged to enrich the discussion and provide new pathways for tackling the complexities of autism and its comorbid conditions.

Keywords: Paediatric Neurology, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Epilepsy, Neurometabolic diseases, Autism Spectrum disorder

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.