Background & Aims : Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with associated cognitive deficits. Some of these deficits such as face recognition deficit have been reported in siblings of children with autism.

  Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on twenty (6-14 y/o) siblings of children with autism referring to child and adolescence clinic of Roozbeh hospital in Tehran in 2008-2009 and twenty (6-14y/o) health school students. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and K_SADS_PL semi-structure interview in both group. And autistic spectrum symptoms were gathered and then evaluated by with CARS questioner, IQ scores with Raven's tests, and Benton face recognition test.

  Results: Results of this study showed that there is no significant difference in face recognition test responses between two groups. But sex and age had a positive correlation with face recognition ability.

  Conclusion : Deficit in face recognition may be an endophenotype of autism but this study does not demonstrate it.

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2013: 24(10): 830 ISSN: 1027-3727