Comparison of Characteristics
of Mercury Poisoning & Autism | Speech, Language & Hearing Deficits | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Loss of speech, failure to develop speech | Delayed language, failure to develop speech | | Dysarthria; articulation problems | Dysarthria; articulation problems | | Speech comprehension deficits | Speech comprehension deficits | | Verbalizing & word retrieval problems | Echolalia; word use & pragmatic errors | | Sound sensitivity | Sound sensitivity | | Hearing loss; deafness in very high doses | Mild to profound hearing loss | | Poor performance on language IQ tests | Poor performance on verbal IQ tests | | Sensory Abnormalities | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities | Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities | | Sound sensitivity | Sound sensitivity | | Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion | Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion | | Vestibular abnormalities | Vestibular abnormalities | | Motor Disorders | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Involuntary jerking movements - arm flapping, ankle jerks, myoclonal jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking | Stereotyped movements - arm flapping, jumping, circling, spinning, rocking; myoclonal jerks; choreiform movements | | Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; intention tremors | Poor eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; problems with intentional movements | | Gait impairment; ataxia - from incoordination & clumsiness to inability to walk, stand, or sit; loss of motor control | Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking | | Difficulty in chewing or swallowing | Difficulty chewing or swallowing | | Unusual postures; toe walking | Unusual postures; toe walking | | Cognitive Impairments | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - some cases reversible | Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - sometimes "recovered" | | Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition | Poor concentration, attention, shifting attention | | Uneven performance on IQ subtests | Uneven performance on IQ subtests | | Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ | Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ | | Poor short term, verbal, & auditory memory | Poor short term, auditory & verbal memory | | Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, impairment in simple reaction time | Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, lower performance on timed tests | | Difficulty carrying out complex commands | Difficulty carrying out multiple commands | | Word-comprehension difficulties | Word-comprehension difficulties | | Deficits in understanding abstract ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers | Deficits in abstract thinking & symbolism, understanding other's mental states, sequencing, planning & organizing | | Unusual Behaviors | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Stereotyped sniffing (rats) | Stereotyped, repetitive behaviors | | ADHD traits | ADHD traits | | Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells | Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells | | Sleep difficulties | Sleep difficulties | | Eating disorders, feeding problems | Eating disorders, feeding problems | | Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging | Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging | | Visual Impairments | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Poor eye contact, impaired visual fixation | Poor eye contact, problems in joint attention | | "Visual impairments," blindness, near-sightedness, decreased visual acuity | "Visual impairments"; inaccurate/slow saccades; decreased rod functioning | | Light sensitivity, photophobia | Over-sensitivity to light | | Blurred or hazy vision | Blurred vision | | Constricted visual fields | Not described | | Physical Disturbances | | Mercury Poisoning | Autism | | Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypo-tonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing, salivating | Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypotonia; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing and swallowing | | Rashes, dermatitis/dry skin, itching; burning | Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching | | Autonomic disturbance: excessive sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate | Autonomic disturbance: unusual sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate |
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