Can You Test for Autism in the Womb?

Advances in medical research have made it possible to detect some health conditions while a child is still in the mother’s womb. These modern prenatal tests can diagnose a wide range of different conditions, helping doctors and parents prepare for different challenges that they may face.

Prenatal screening can identify a fetus’ risk level for certain things such as birth defects, infections and structural abnormalities¹. Prenatal diagnostic tests can provide more definitive results about the health of a fetus.

Early identification can prove very important to a child’s outcomes. When treatment and therapies can be started early for certain conditions, for example, children are better able to grasp certain concepts and grow.

All these medical advances beg the question of whether you can test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the womb. Below, we’ll discuss whether this is possible and how autism is typically diagnosed.

Índice

Can You Test for Autism in the Womb?

Despite the many advances in medical research and technology, there is no way to test for autism in the womb². No medical examination, test or screening can identify whether a fetus has autism or not.

That being said, there are certain prenatal genetic tests and exams that can be done that could indicate an increased risk that a child will have ASD when they are born.

A 2022 study, for example, found that prenatal ultrasounds conducted during the second trimester have the ability to identify some of the early autism signs. Researchers for the study examined ultrasounds that examined fetal anatomy, finding that in 30% of the fetuses that developed ASD when they were born, there were differences identified in the kidneys, heart and head.

In fact, the rate of these differences was triple what it normally is in fetuses for neurotypical individuals.

Another study suggested that there is a prenatal análisis de sangre that could indicate a higher risk for ASD. This specific test analyzes metabolites that are known to be unique to autism³.

While this blood test is still considered to be exploratory in nature, researchers have said that it was able to identify ASD accurately nearly 95% of the time.

Finally, a genetic test known as a chromosomal microarray analysis⁴ can be conducted while a mother is pregnant to try to identify small changes in genetics. It’s often used for genetic conditions and to identify some of the early indicators for ASD.

 

How is Autism Generally Diagnosed?

It’s not just that prenatal blood tests and medical examinations can’t test for autism in the womb; they also can’t test for autism after a baby is born.

Instead, ASD is generally diagnosed based on the presence of certain behaviors that are present in children who are on the autism spectrum. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), ASD can be appropriate diagnosed based on the following factors:

• Deficits in communication and social interaction, including nonverbal communication such as body language and social cues
• Restrictive interests
• Repetitive behaviors
• Sensory sensitivities such as hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity

Trained professionals such as clinical psychologists and developmental pediatricians will use the DSM-5 as a guideline for officially diagnosing ASD in children.

Part of the challenge in diagnosing autism, though, comes from the fact that it can be difficult to identify some of the behaviors listed above, especially at a young age. Some children simply don’t display these behaviors as prominently as others, for instance, while others still are good at masking their symptoms to try to fit in with others.

Still, through early screenings such as the M-CHAT and in-depth evaluations, these trained professionals have been able to increase the rate at which they accurately diagnose autism in recent years.

Once autism is identified and diagnosed, many children will be referred for applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, which is considered the gold standard treatment option for children on the autism spectrum.

Through repetition and many different strategies, therapists can help children with ASD build their communication and social interaction skills, while also modifying certain behaviors that would be considered negative and/or harmful.

In this way, they are supported so they can grow and live happy, healthy, independent and fulfilling lives.

 

Blue Gems ABA Supports Children with ASD

While you can’t test for autism in the womb, there are some promising recent studies that suggest some of the early risk factors can be identified in fetuses. For now, though, the most accurate way to identify and diagnose ASD is through early screening tests and tried-and-true methods

En Blue Gems ABA, we have a team of professionals who conduct in-depth evaluations for ASD. If autism is identified, we also have a team that administers ABA therapy on a one-to-one basis.

All of our treatment plans are catered specifically to each individual child’s unique strengths and challenges, which results in better outcomes.

Para más información Contacto hoy.

Referencias

1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/common-tests-during-pregnancy#:~:text=First%20trimester%20screening%20is%20a,blood%20tests%20called%20multiple%20markers.
2. https://utswmed.org/medblog/autism-genetic-testing-pregnancy/
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9604590/
4. https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/329/download?inline#:~:text=Chromosomal%20microarray%20analysis%20(CMA)%20is,fluorescence%20in%20situ%20hybridization)%20analysis.