Low Birthweight Babies Five Times More Likely To Develop Autism - Page 2
The implications of this study can be important. The advancement of neonatal care is saving more and more lives of countless, premature newborns. With this in mind, Pinto-Martin stresses, "We have a wave of these children coming down the pike because neonatal care has improved so dramatically. We are saving more and more babies, and the consequences for their health are going to be profound."
It could be possible that in past years, other disabilities such as language disorders or mental retardation could have masked a potential diagnosis of ASD. And with so much already going into a typical pediactric screening, developmental concerns may not be brought up as much. Still, Pinto-Martin advises that autism should be implented into a pediatric exam. She says, "The same way we make sure every kid gets screened for hearing, we need to make sure that every kid gets screened for autism spectrum disorders." Though the results of the study should not overly alarm parents, if a parent suspects that something may be wrong, they may be correct and it will be better to know much sooner than later. Pinto-Martin stresses, "Five percent is not 50% but if you a suspicion as a parent, you are probably right. Don't take wait-and-see as an answer." The study appears in the November issue of Pediatrics and the abstract is now available online.
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