New research published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology suggests that children born preterm have a higher likelihood of screening positive for autism compared to full-term children.

For the study, 9,725 toddlers were screened during well-child visits at 15, 18, or 24 months using a test called the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised.

The screening results showed that the highest percentage of positive autism cases was found in children born extremely preterm (51.35%), while the lowest percentage was found in those born full-term (6.95%). Further evaluations after a positive screening revealed autism diagnosis rates of 16.05% for extremely preterm births, 2.00% for very preterm births, 2.89% for moderately preterm births, and 1.49% for full-term births.

Using the screening test at unadjusted ages for early birth was effective in identifying autism. Only a small number of preterm children (1.90%) who screened positive did not receive a diagnosis of autism or other developmental delay following evaluation.

“With this research, we hope to address any doubts that clinicians may have about the usefulness of screening for autism in toddlers born prematurely,” said corresponding author Georgina Perez Liz, MD, of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. “Low-cost, universal public health strategies such as screening can reduce disparities in autism detection and enable children on the spectrum to receive targeted interventions and support at an earlier stage in life.”