2016 Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 52-57
We report a case of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with repetitive insertion of foreign bodies into the external auditory canals. The patient was a 6-year-old boy and he first visited our department because he repeatedly inserted foreign bodies into the external auditory canals. We introduced him to the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, and he was diagnosed with ASD. He had other symptoms such as communication deficits and strong impulsivity, but they improved gradually after medication and intervention. Repetitive insertion of foreign bodies into the external auditory canals is a repetitive and stereotyped behavior. These repetitive and stereotyped behaviors become compulsive due to external factors such as changes in the social environment and family relationships. Sensory abnormality is a characteristic of most people with ASD, and it was considered that this patient was insensitive to the pain. It is well known that a diagnosis of ASD secondarily complicates other mental disorders at a high rate because of adjustment disorder. Thus, it is necessary to diagnose and intervene early if a patient has a special type of ASD. A patient not yet diagnosed with ASD may visit an otolaryngology department for the first time. A cooperative approach with specialists of psychosomatic medicine, child psychiatry, or neurology is recommended.
