Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Premature Subjects Hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Considering that the average age for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 4-5 years, testing screening methods for ASD risk in early infancy is a public health priority. This study aims to identify the risks for development of ASD in children born prematurely and hospitalized in a neonatal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-10, Vol.17 (20), p.7675
Main Authors: Scarlytt de Oliveira Holanda, Norrara, Delgado Oliveira da Costa, Lidiane, Suelen Santos Sampaio, Sabrinne, Gomes da Fonseca Filho, Gentil, Batista Bezerra, Ruth, Guerra Azevedo, Ingrid, Alves Pereira, Silvana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology
Birth weight
Brain research
Checklist
Children
Communication
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Hypotheses
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Intensive care
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Male
Mass Screening
Medical records
Metabolism
Neonates
Premature babies
Premature Birth
Public health
Statistical analysis
Toddlers
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Summary:Considering that the average age for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is 4-5 years, testing screening methods for ASD risk in early infancy is a public health priority. This study aims to identify the risks for development of ASD in children born prematurely and hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and explore the association with pre-, peri- and postnatal factors. : The children's families were contacted by telephone when their child was between 18 and 24 months of age, to apply the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT). The sample consisted of 40 children (57.5% boys). M-CHAT screening revealed that 50% of the sample showed early signs of ASD. Although the frequency of delayed development was higher in boys, this difference was not statistically significant between the sexes ( = 0.11). Assessment of the association between perinatal conditions and early signs of autism in children hospitalized in an NICU exhibited no correlation between the factors analyzed (birth weight and type of delivery). The findings indicate a high risk of ASD in premature children, demonstrating no associations with gestational and neonatal variables or the hospitalization conditions of the NICUs investigated.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17207675