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A longitudinal study of 91 very premature newborns, weighing less than 1,500 grams at birth, finds them at increased risk for
testing positive on autism screening as
toddlers, even after adjustment for motor and language delays related to their
prematurity. Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD, and Adre du Plessis, MD, of Children's Department of Neurology, screened the children using three well-validated assessments: the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), the Child Behavior Checklist and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale. At a mean adjusted age of 22 months, 26
percent showed signs of possible autism.
Researchers conclude that early screening for autistic features is needed in preterm infants, but caution that this screening is not diagnostic and should be followed with definitive testing. "This research was done in a high-risk
population of very preterm infants, and by no means are we suggesting all
premature babies are at risk for autism," says Dr. Limperopoulos. "It's unclear whether these findings will persist as
the children grow older." (Pediatrics, April 2008)
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