In one sentence
In a small outpatient sample of children with NICU histories, about 9% scored in the autism range on a screening tool, and several perinatal factors were more common in that group — findings the authors themselves call exploratory.
What the researchers did
Researchers studied 66 infants and children seen in a pediatric outpatient clinic who had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They compared autism screening scores (CARS-2) and clinical history factors between children screening in the ASD range and those who did not. This was a cross-sectional, hypothesis-generating study — not a population prevalence survey.
What they found
- Six of 66 children (9.1%) scored in the ASD range; mean CARS-2 scores differed sharply between groups.
- Factors more often linked to ASD-range scores included premature rupture of membranes, prematurity, longer NICU stay, and greater need for respiratory support.
- Some auditory brainstem response (ABR) latency measures also differed on average between groups.
- Authors urge developmental screening for children with NICU histories even without other obvious neurological signs.
What this means for families and therapists
- A NICU stay raises reasons to watch development closely — it does not mean autism is inevitable.
- Ask for structured developmental follow-up after discharge; early screening is about access to support, not labeling for its own sake.
- Related reading on early pathways: preschool diagnostic tools and what we know about autism.
Limitations and what we don't know yet
- Very small sample (only six ASD-range cases); single clinic; cross-sectional.
- Screening scores ≠ full multidisciplinary diagnosis.
- Cannot prove which NICU factors cause autism risk.
This is a plain-language summary of Risk factors for autism spectrum disorder among infants and children admitted in a neonatal intensive care unit by Mohamed M.M., ELMeneza S.A., Hammouda S.M., Dialogues in Health (2026). Source license: CC-BY. It is not medical advice — talk to a qualified clinician before changing therapy.