Stability of early risk assessment for autism spectrum disorder in preterm infants

Abstract

Stability and change in early autism spectrum disorder risk were examined in a cohort of 99 preterm infants (⩽34 weeks of gestation) using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants at 8 and 12 months and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Toddler Module at 18 months. A total of 21 infants were identified at risk by the Autism Observation Scale for Infants at 8 months, and 9 were identified at risk at 12 months, including 4 children who were not previously identified. At 18 months, eight children were identified at risk for autism spectrum disorder using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Toddler Module, only half of whom had been identified using the original Autism Observation Scale for Infants cutoffs. Results are discussed in relation to early trajectories of autism spectrum disorder risk among preterm infants as well as identifying social-communication deficiencies associated with the early preterm behavioral phenotype.

Risk for ASD in Preterm Infants: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study

“…With respect to the stability of ASD risk classifications among PT children, the rates of children who were identified with ASD risk decreased over time; this is in line with our previous findings in relation to 8-, 12-, and 18-month PT infants [ 26 ]. These findings demonstrate the challenge of identifying ASD risk earlier among young children (particularly in PT cohorts) and emphasize the importance of repeated assessments.…”

“…An increased prevalence of ASD risk (1.8%–41%) has been documented among children who were born preterm (PT) [ 16 , 22 – 24 ], emphasizing the need for the early identification of ASD risk among PT cohorts. We previously reported a prevalence of 21% of ASD risk at 8 months, which decreased to 9% at 12 months, using the Autism Observation Scale for Infants [ 25 ], and to 8% at 18 months, using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Toddler Module (ADOS-T) [ 26 ]. Considering the importance of repeated assessments when screening for ASD during the first years of life [ 27 ], the current study focuses on follow-up assessments using gold-standard measures at 24 and 36 months.…”

The Autism Parent Screen for Infants: Predicting risk of autism spectrum disorder based on parent-reported behavior observed at 6–24 months of age

“…We also acknowledge that the APSI may perform differently in infants who are at increased risk of ASD for reasons other than family history. Previous research using the AOSI to assess early signs of ASD in other at-risk groups indicates overlapping findings with early signs in younger siblings, but also important differences that may relate to underlying differences in biology and cognitive profiles (Jeste et al, 2016; Roberts et al, 2016; Yaari et al, 2016). Nevertheless, the strengths of our study include the large high-risk sibling sample, which included 66 children diagnosed with ASD, and availability of outcome data on the full sample, including “screen-negative” HR and LR children.…”

Cumulative Risk of the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Interacts with Prenatal Exposure to Oxytocin Receptor Antagonist to Predict Children's Social Communication Development

“…Relevant medical data regarding the mother (e.g., background medical conditions, chronic medication administration during pregnancy) and the neonate (e.g., gestational age at birth, birth weight) were obtained from computerized hospital records. Based on these data prenatal risk scores were calculated [Friedlander et al, ; Friedlander et al, ; Yaari et al, ]. This scale comprised the following variables, which each received 1 point if present: placental abruption, gestational age under 34 weeks, birth weight lower than 1,500 g, small size for gestational age—namely under the third percentile of Israeli growth curves, and Apgar score measured 5 min after birth ≤7.…”