Premature babies at higher risk for autism
Categories: Newborns, Babies, Pregnancy & Birth, Safety, In The News
Autism continues to be one of the most perplexing disorders affecting children today. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated Autism and other 'spectrum' disorders such as Aspergers syndrome affect one out of 150 children in the U.S. And yet the causes remain largely illusive.
Everything from genetic conditions, to thimersol (a mercury preservative that until recently was found in most vaccinations, and is still present in some forms of the flue vaccine,) and advanced paternal age have been linked to autism. New research may have found another piece to the puzzle.
A recent Canadian study found that out of four toddlers born prematurely showed early sings of autism. Premature birth and low birth weight have been identified in previous studies as risk factors for a number of developmental problems including autism, but this study was the first to specifically assess the risk of autism in this population.
According to Catherine Limperopopoulos of McGill University, of the 91 children in the study (born between 7 and 14 weeks premature with a birth weight of 3.3 pounds or less) 23 were suspected of autism at 21 months of age, with the risk being greatest for those children who weighed least at birth, and those born to mothers who suffered prenatal infection or bleeding.
"Early autistic behaviors seem to be an under-recognized feature of very low birth-weight infants," Limperopoulos said.
Because April is Autism Awareness Month, I am particularly interest in hearing from parents with kiddos who have autism or are on the spectrum. Was your child a preemie? Over and over again the experts come out with their often conflicting opinions and research--but at the end of the day many parents have their own hunches. What factors do you think may have contributed to your child's autism?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SKL 4-03-2008 @ 1:36PM
In the article I read, it was pointed out that half of the kids identified as having autistic symptoms at an early age never end up being diagnosed with autism. So I wouldn't give too much weight to this research just yet.
Very premature babies are bound to suffer various problems and some of them might LOOK like symptoms of autism. But we should be wary of assuming that it's the same disorder. People will have a tendency to lump all "autism-like" problems in one basket and try to draw generalized conclusions. This is not helpful. It's like, when kids score low on an IQ test, it might be because of a lack of early stimulation, prematurity, heredity, chromasomal problems, lead poisoning, or brain damage caused by an accident. Each of these needs to be addressed differently, with respect to prevention, treatment, prognosis, and possibly a cure. The same is true of what we often see referred to as "autism-like symptoms."
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Karen 4-03-2008 @ 3:02PM
My child on the spectrum was born at 38 weeks and weighed 8 lb 14 oz. However, my DH and his father both have apparent Asperger's, so I'm sure the genetic link is the most important in our case. I'd still like to know what "unlocks" that gene, as our other two children are not on the spectrum.
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Tamyu 4-03-2008 @ 3:01PM
My take on this;
My son was severely premature, and has been diagnosed with autism.
The thing is, he isn`t autistic by any regular definition of the condition. He doesn`t have any of the "symptoms" or traits other than being (very) behind in language and social development. Not that those aren`t huge problems, but they aren`t exactly the first things someone thinks of when they hear the word autism.
It all boils down to not having a word for the developmental disorders, delays, and problems these children have. My son`s condition is largely due to brain damage he suffered just prior to birth. I know this, the doctors all know this... But you can`t use that as a diagnosis. They wring their hands, and end up saying "Well, he doesn`t really fit the autism label... But there is nowhere else to put him." And as he does need support, it isn`t as if I can refuse. No diagnosis, no support.
When there is brain damage, there is some sort of effect on the child`s future development. Yes, the brain is amazing, etc etc... (I`ve heard it 160000 times from everyone and their cousin) But it isn`t magical. It isn`t perfect. And I believe that many of the subtler problems that arise are very similar to certain autistic traits.
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randi 4-03-2008 @ 3:53PM
My sister has 2 kids on the Autism Spectrum and I have 1. All three pregnancies were completely normal and easy.
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Michelle 4-03-2008 @ 4:47PM
My son was born at 25 weeks. He has Sensory Processing Disorder, which often can go hand-in-hand with Autism. It also is often confused with Autism. In fact, if I were to describe several of my son's "quirks" to a stranger, they would assume he is autistic, especially as SPD is relatively new and often not recognized by the medical community.
In fact, until I learned about SPD, I thought he was going to end up being diagnosed with autism because I just knew things were "just not right". Beyond his developmental delays and mild CP already brought on by his prematurity. Granted, he's only 3, and, unfortunately, we can, and most likely will, still find complications arising from his rocky beginning.
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Laura 4-14-2008 @ 10:35AM
My son with autism was born 16 days late and was 9 lbs 5 oz... I did not have infections but I did lose a lot of blood.
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kris 4-18-2008 @ 4:45AM
Preemies and babies of multiple birth have a very sensitive immune system and should be dealt with accordingly. Many doctors act like they are like any other child and therefore administer vaccines at 2 months of age. Alot of normal size babies cannot handle them let alone a preemie. They have other toxins in them besides the diseases. They have Alluminum, Formaldehyde, Polyethylene Glycol (anti-freeze) and some still have Mercury. An undeveloped immune system cannot handle them and damage is the result or death. I found out alot about vaccines after my sisters twins ended up having seizures after their vaccines. The vaccines also changed the way they acted and behaved. Slowly they are becoming more normal and that is because we didnt let them get any more vaccines. The major cause of SIDS is vaccines. They are a cruel practice by our Medical Assoc.
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Erica 4-17-2008 @ 3:28PM
There has never been a controlled study that links vaccines with autism. This is hooey. Anyone who chooses not to vaccinate their children should take a Sunday stroll through an old cemetery. It was common for parents to lose all of their children with weeks during diptheria epidemics. Or perhaps visit with a polio survivor tied to a permanent ventilator. The irony is that those who choose not to vaccinate are protected by those of us that do. It is called "herd immunity" and is the only thing protecting their children
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Cynthia Johnson 4-30-2008 @ 1:04PM
My youngest son was born at 26 weeks, he weighed 802 grams (1 lb 12 oz) at birth. He was born at the University of Washington Medical Center and was followed at the then CDRMC (now CHDD) until the age of 9 when our family moved to Arizona.
At the age of 4 he was diagnosed with PDD NOS & ADHD As we all know PDD IS in the Autism Spectrum.
The state of Arizona does not recognize this as a disability. I was fortunite enough to find the Peoria School District, there when my son entered the 6th grade, he was enrolled in the CDD class (Communication Developmental Delay) WHAT A GODSEND! Then it was a trial program, and it is a success! I only wish that the Edmonds School District and the Scottsdale Unified School District had this program implemented when he had attended there.
I have heard many many factors linked to Autism, from the mercury in vacinations, to living in a sea port town, to genetics (and if that is the contributing factor it would make sence in my sons case, w/ a grandfather and two brothers ith a genius IQ and boarderline genius IQ, a uncle and brother w/ dyslexia, a uncle and father w/ ADD) now I am reading about premature birth. I am a DES Daughter. One of the number one side effects of this is a mis shaped uterus (actually heart shaped and horned).
My son is now 19, graduating this year, and has a long road ahead of him. But I tell you, if my other two sons had the drive and will to succeed like my youngest, there would be endless opportunites for them. He sets a standard that everyone should look up to and sets the mark.
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