Researchers, led by pediatrician Bonnie E. Stephens, MD, FAAP, and assistant professor of pediatrics at Brown University’s Alpert School of Medicine, hypothesised that many formerly premature infants who screen positive for ASD at 18 months do not have ASD but are having failing scores due to a cognitive or language delay, which is common in 18-month-olds who have been born very prematurely.
For the study, researchers sought to determine the rate of false-positive screens for ASD taken at 18 and 30 months of age and to determine the connection between a positive screen and cognitive and language delay.Stephens and her colleagues are hoping to get funding to support a multi centre study that would include more than 500 children. “This will allow us to determine the true rate of ASD in this population, the rate of false-positive screens at 18 and 30 months, the optimal time to screen, and the optimal ASD screening tool for the extremely preterm population".
Hopefully, this will persuade professionals here to look at the wider factors involved. I want early diagnosis but I want accurate labelling!
