| | Mercury Poisoning | Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Psychiatric Disturbances | Social deficits, shyness, social withdrawal Depression, mood swings; mask face Anxiety Schizoid tendencies, OCD traits Lacks eye contact, hesitant to engage others Irrational fears Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums Impaired face recognition |
Social deficits, social withdrawal, shyness Depressive traits, mood swings; flat affect Anxiety Schizophrenic & OCD traits; repetitiveness Lack of eye contact, avoids conversation Irrational fears Irritability, aggression, temper tantrums Impaired face recognition |
| Speech, Language & Hearing Deficits | Loss of speech, failure to develop speech Dysarthria; articulation problems Speech comprehension deficits Verbalizing & word retrieval problems Sound sensitivity Hearing loss; deafness in very high doses Poor performance on language IQ tests | Delayed language, failure to develop speech Dysarthria; articulation problems Speech comprehension deficits Echolalia; word use & pragmatic errors Sound sensitivity Mild to profound hearing loss Poor performance on verbal IQ tests |
| Sensory Abnormalities | Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities Sound sensitivity Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion Vestibular abnormalities | Abnormal sensation in mouth & extremities Sound sensitivity Abnormal touch sensations; touch aversion · Vestibular abnormalities |
| Motor Disorders | Involuntary jerking movements - arm flapping, ankle jerks, myoclonal jerks, choreiform movements, circling, rocking Deficits in eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; intention tremors Gait impairment; ataxia - from incoordination & clumsiness to inability to walk, stand, or sit; loss of motor control Difficulty in chewing or swallowing Unusual postures; toe walking | Stereotyped movements - arm flapping, jumping, circling, spinning, rocking; myoclonal jerks; choreiform movements Poor eye-hand coordination; limb apraxia; problems with intentional movements Abnormal gait and posture, clumsiness and incoordination; difficulties sitting, lying, crawling, and walking Difficulty chewing or swallowing Unusual postures; toe walking |
| Cognitive Impairments | Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - some cases reversible Poor concentration, attention, response inhibition Uneven performance on IQ subtests Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ Poor short term, verbal, & auditory memory Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, impairment in simple reaction time Difficulty carrying out complex commands Word-comprehension difficulties Deficits in understanding abstract ideas & symbolism; degeneration of higher mental powers | Borderline intelligence, mental retardation - sometimes "recovered" Poor concentration, attention, shifting attention Uneven performance on IQ subtests Verbal IQ higher than performance IQ Poor short term, auditory & verbal memory Poor visual and perceptual motor skills, lower performance on timed tests Difficulty carrying out multiple commands Word-comprehension difficulties Deficits in abstract thinking & symbolism, understanding other’s mental states, sequencing, planning & organizing |
| Unusual Behaviors | Stereotyped sniffing (rats) ADHD traits Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells Sleep difficulties Eating disorders, feeding problems Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging | Stereotyped, repetitive behaviors ADHD traits Agitation, unprovoked crying, grimacing, staring spells Sleep difficulties Eating disorders, feeding problems Self injurious behavior, e.g. head banging |
| · Visual Impairments | Poor eye contact, impaired visual fixation “Visual impairments,” blindness, near-sightedness, decreased visual acuity Light sensitivity, photophobia Blurred or hazy vision Constricted visual fields | Poor eye contact, problems in joint attention “Visual impairments”; inaccurate/slow saccades; decreased rod functioning Over-sensitivity to light Blurred vision |
| Physical Disturbances | Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypo-tonia; abnormal reflexes; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing, swallowing, salivating Rashes, dermatitis/dry skin, itching; burning Autonomic disturbance: excessive sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate | Increase in cerebral palsy; hyper- or hypotonia; decreased muscle strength, especially upper body; incontinence; problems chewing and swallowing Rashes, dermatitis, eczema, itching Autonomic disturbance: unusual sweating, poor circulation, elevated heart rate |
| Gastro-intestinal Disturbances | Gastroenteritis, diarrhea; abdominal pain, constipation, “colitis” Anorexia, weight loss, nausea, poor appetite Lesions of ileum & colon; increased gut permeability Inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase IV, which cleaves casomorphin | Diarrhea, constipation, gaseousness, abdominal discomfort, colitis Anorexia; feeding problems/vomiting Leaky gut syndrome Inadequate endopeptidase enzymes needed for breakdown of casein & gluten |
