Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by comorbid ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders, including hearing loss, otitis media, auditory processing deficits, and sleep-disordered breathing. These conditions can further impair communication and behavior, yet research at the ASD-ENT intersection remains scattered....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change in practice; this is a bibliometric overview identifying research gaps, not a clinical intervention study.
Mapping research trends at the autism–otolaryngology intersection highlights understudied comorbidities — particularly hearing loss and recurrent otitis media — that audiologists routinely encounter in patients with ASD.
- 01Bibliometric analysis charting all published research linking autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and otolaryngology.
- 02Hearing loss and otitis media (ear infections) are among the key comorbidities identified.
- 03Findings reveal growing research interest but persistent gaps in clinical evidence for this population.
- 04Results can guide future research prioritization for ASD-related hearing and ENT care.
- 05No new clinical trial data; methodology is literature mapping only.
There are identifiable research trends and gaps at the intersection of ASD and otolaryngology, including hearing loss and otitis media comorbidities.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42704960
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ridd.2026.105370.
- Journal
- Research in Developmental Disabilities
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- na
- Population
- Published literature at the intersection of autism spectrum disorder and otolaryngology
- Intervention
- Bibliometric analysis of ASD–otolaryngology research
Primary outcomes
Research trends over time; Identification of key comorbidities (hearing loss, otitis media); Clinical implications for ASD–otolaryngology care