Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Fatih Çetinkaya; Hürriyet Çetinok

doi:10.18621/eurj.1831096

Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder often exhibits unusual craniofacial morphology, which may indicate underlying neurodevelopmental abnormalities in childhood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between craniofacial anthropometric measurements, the severity of autism, and language development in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Methods: This study included 66 children (50 boys, 16 girls) aged 6–10 years who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Three-dimensional facial scanning was performed after the removal of glasses, and anthropometric measurements were analyzed in relation to scores on the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale and the Turkish Communication Development Inventory.

Results: A significant association was found between increased head circumference and higher autism severity (P=0.035), with larger head size correlating with decreased forehead height, may suggest greater symptom severity in boys. No significant associations were observed in girls. Craniofacial metrics showed no association with language development in either gender.

Conclusions: Head circumference and forehead height have been identified as potential craniofacial indicators of autism severity in boys with autism spectrum disorder. These findings highlight the effectiveness of craniofacial phenotyping in clarifying the neurodevelopmental characteristics associated with autism. Future research, utilizing larger and more sex-balanced cohorts, is imperative to clarify these relationships and their potential diagnostic relevance.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2024/56267; date: 12.12.2024). All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. Written informed consent was obtained from all parents.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Anatomy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Fatih Çetinkaya
0009-0005-5043-0513
Türkiye

Hürriyet Çetinok ^*
0000-0001-7083-966X
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

January 1, 2026

Publication Date

February 1, 2026

Submission Date

November 27, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1831096

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA92EX46TT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Çetinkaya, F., & Çetinok, H. (2026). Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The European Research Journal, 12(2), 280-288. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1831096

AMA

1.Çetinkaya F, Çetinok H. Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Eur Res J. 2026;12(2):280-288. doi:10.18621/eurj.1831096

Chicago

Çetinkaya, Fatih, and Hürriyet Çetinok. 2026. “Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age With Autism Spectrum Disorder”. The European Research Journal 12 (2): 280-88. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1831096.

EndNote

Çetinkaya F, Çetinok H (February 1, 2026) Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The European Research Journal 12 2 280–288.

IEEE

[1]F. Çetinkaya and H. Çetinok, “Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder”, Eur Res J, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 280–288, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.18621/eurj.1831096.

ISNAD

Çetinkaya, Fatih - Çetinok, Hürriyet. “Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age With Autism Spectrum Disorder”. The European Research Journal 12/2 (February 1, 2026): 280-288. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1831096.

JAMA

1.Çetinkaya F, Çetinok H. Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Eur Res J. 2026;12:280–288.

MLA

Çetinkaya, Fatih, and Hürriyet Çetinok. “Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age With Autism Spectrum Disorder”. The European Research Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, Feb. 2026, pp. 280-8, doi:10.18621/eurj.1831096.

Vancouver

1.Fatih Çetinkaya, Hürriyet Çetinok. Craniofacial Morphological Features in Childhood Age with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Eur Res J. 2026 Feb. 1;12(2):280-8. doi:10.18621/eurj.1831096