Premature birth runs in my family. So does autism.
My initial response was the same as Marcia's.
But then I had another thought.
The most compelling theory of autistic brains is that they do not 'prune' the connections that 'NT' brains start pruning shortly before birth (and continue to prune until they no longer have the sensitivities of autistic brains).
Suppose that premature infants somehow miss out on some hormone or something else that triggers this pruning process?
Then pre-natal testing won't be able to detect autism, because the genetics don't work directly but indirectly.
I wonder if being a preemie might be a part of the other 10% of the 90% heritability of autism. Stress in general causes latent genetics to get activated, so a kid who was on one side of the NT/ASD line might be pushed to the other side of it because of prematurity. He'd have to be close to ASD to begin with--those genetics would create an NT with Aspie traits without the stress of being born preemie--but stress/vulnerability can definitely combine to create autism. The genetics, as I said before, are 90% of the picture on average; but I wouldn't hesitate to give you prenatal/neonatal stress as the biggest part of the 10% that isn't genetic.
I was born 2 lbs. 10 oz. in 1970, about 6.5 mo. gestation
Miracle baby (odds were 60% against making it)
Asperger dx
Just an anecdote for the data analysis.....
I just had a big head, just like my older sister.
My younger sister didn't have that at all, and she is SO NT compared to me and my sis.
Sis isn't diagnosed.
I just thought I'd throw this out there, even if it's slightly OT:
I still don't believe that hard birth causes autism. I don't know about the premature birth link, if there is one, but there is no convincing me that a long and difficult labor, forceps to the head, early cord clamping, or any such thing either causes OR activates ASD.
Brain damage at birth might contribute to certain aspects of ASD, such as sensory problems (among others), but I still don't think it is a significant factor with the majority of ASDs.
So, there's just no convincing me. If anyone would like to try to convince me, I would ask you to provide hard data--an official study, perhaps. If you cannot provide hard facts, then the argument and anyone who believes it, are to be discredited.
Our son was born 12 (!) weeks early at 1355 grams (almost exactly 3 pounds - how did we do that?). All the other children my wife (AS) has given birth to were 4 weeks early.
Hm, there might be something in it. I was born 4 weeks premature, and while I still don't know if I'm autistic or not (even professionals can't tell for sure), I think maybe around this "age" the NT behaviour is being formed (and it must be formed before birth). Who knows, maybe it is some factor....
I have to add to my last post that I'm the only prematurely born in my family - and the only one showing autistic traits.
What theory do you look at?
1. Genetic - Dad and two brothers have Asperger symptoms
2. Age of parents - Mom 33 and Dad 39 at conception
3. Fetal alcohol - Mom was a considerable drinker
4. Miscarriages - there were four of them
5. Premature birth/oxygen deprivation/forceps/trauma
I might even be forgetting one or two. But the possibilities are endless.
I was born 4 days late and didn't have a really large head yet out of a family of 7, I show the most autistic traits. One of my younger brothers, who also shows traits, was 5 days early and didn't have a large head either.
I still think the "hard birth causes autism" theory is absolute s**t. Sorry, there's no other way for me to put it.
Recently I found out that when I was born I didn't start breathing immediately. Luckily I didn't need any urgent care, but I didn't even start crying until nearly 60 seconds after I was born.
I don't know if this qualifies as a "difficult birth", however.
Recently I found out that when I was born I didn't start breathing immediately. Luckily I didn't need any urgent care, but I didn't even start crying until nearly 60 seconds after I was born.
I don't know if this qualifies as a "difficult birth", however.
Is it certain that this incident would have caused brain damage, though?