Premature Births and Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological disorder that is seemingly affecting an increasing number of people each year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one in 36 children has autism, a significant increase from the prevalence rate of only a few years earlier.

There are many possible reasons why the prevalence rate of autism has been on the rise, including more accurate diagnostic methods and better overall knowledge about the early signs and symptoms of ASD.

It’s also possible that some other factors are playing a part in the increase in the number of children who are being diagnosed with autism. As this is happening, researchers are investigating what some of these reasons might be.

Some links have already been found between maternal health and autism, and it’s also believed that there is a link between premature births and autism.

Below, we’ll discuss that later factor in more depth to shine light on the potential role that premature births could play in a child developing autism.

Learn more about family history and how it might increase autism risks

Table Of Contents

Is There a Link Between Premature Births and Autism?

Many recent studies have suggested that there indeed is a link between premature birth and the development of autism.

Some studies have even suggested that as many as 20% of preterm infants have a chance of developing ASD. This rate gets even bigger the earlier that an infant is born.

This is especially alarming because, thanks to advances in medicine, the survival rate for preterm infants is increasing every year. If this risk factor is indeed true, then that means that more preterm infants are likely to be diagnosed with autism in the coming years because they’re more likely to survive today than they were not long ago.

These studies aren’t definitive, though. More research will need to be done to determine whether the autism risk rate is really that high, or if it might be even higher.

A 2018 study, in fact, found that the prevalence rate of autism in preterm infants could be as high as 7% — which would be nearly three times as high as the 2.3% prevalence rate for the total U.S. population.

Does a Baby’s Term Factor into Autism Risk Factor?

The quick answer is that it seems as though the autism risk factor increases the earlier an infant is born. One study, for instance, suggested that for every week earlier that a baby was born, the higher their risk of developing ASD.

The study, published in the Pediatrics journal, found that the autism rate for babies born from 22 through 27 weeks was 6%. That rate dropped to 2.6% for between 28 and 33 weeks, 2% for between 34 and 36 weeks, and only 1.4% for babies who were born full term — at 40 weeks or longer.

This study builds on some previous research suggesting the importance of infants being born as close to their full term as possible for many developmental reasons.

Can Anything Be Done to Lessen the Risk of Premature Birth?

Premature birth is not all that uncommon. In fact, the CDC says that in 2019, about 10% of babies in the U.S. were born prematurely.

Some of the risk factors for premature birth include complications during pregnancy, the habits of the mother — such as whether she smokes or uses substances — a history of prior premature delivery and being pregnant with multiple babies at the same time.

In some cases, there is nothing that a mother can do to prevent premature birth. Sometimes, it just happens, even if the mother follows all of her doctor’s orders and is very healthy.

Generally speaking, the healthier a woman is, the lower the risk of premature birth. But, as mentioned before, this is not always the case.

Still, doctors advise that pregnant mothers should do their best to maintain a healthy weight; not smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs; attend to all suggested prenatal care appointments; manage any existing health conditions they might have such as high blood pressure or diabetes; and reduce stress as much as possible.

Learn more about the link between maternal health and autism

Trust Blue Gems ABA with Your Child’s Treatment

Many studies have suggested that there is a link between premature births and autism. The earlier a baby is born, the higher their risk of developing ASD.

If your child is diagnosed with autism, the best treatment plan for them is likely applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy, which is considered the gold standard.

At Blue Gems ABA, our team of dedicated therapists administer ABA therapy on a one-to-one basis to children with autism. By creating a personalized ABA therapy treatment plan that caters to each child’s unique strengths and challenges, we help them build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.