Neuropsychological performance, emotion recognition, and comorbid ADHD in Egyptian children with autism spectrum disorder. A comparison between Egyptian and Finnish children with autism spectrum disorder

The thesis showed that Egyptian children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and comorbid ASD+ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have lower neuropsychological and emotion recognition (ER) abilities in general than children with ADHD. Thesis also showed that ADHD symptoms in ASD children might worsen some of their functions but improve other functions.
ADHD symptoms may, for example, worsen ASD children´s planning, memory for names, and ER abilities but, for example, improve their verbal fluency and face memory. In addition, Egyptian ASD and ADHD children tend to misinterpret emotions with negative expressions, compared to neurotypical children.
Thesis also showed that there might be a cultural impact on verbal and non-verbal fluency in ASD. However, the ability to memorize objects and deficits in face memory and ER in ASD appear culturally independent. The results of this thesis may impact management plans for ASD in Egypt and immigrants and refugees from Middle Eastern countries in Scandinavia.