Advanced parental ages and low birth weight in autism spectrum disorders--rates and effect on functioning.
Very low birth weight flags lower adaptive skills in kids with ASD—track daily-living and social targets closely.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at the children with autism in Israel. They checked birth records for weight and parents’ ages. Then they gave each child an adaptive-skills test (daily living, social, motor).
They asked: do very low birth weight or older parents link to lower scores?
What they found
Kids born under 1,500 g scored lower in every adaptive area. The difference was big—about one standard deviation. Older moms and dads were common in the sample, but age alone did not hurt scores.
Only the smallest babies showed a clear setback.
How this fits with other research
Solomon et al. (2018) tracked IQ paths and found wide swings—some kids gain 30 points, others slip. Esther’s group adds a birth-risk flag that helps explain part of that scatter.
Sharp et al. (2010) showed regression onset predicts steeper symptom severity. Together, the two papers say: early biological hits (VLBW) or late loss patterns both point to needing stronger supports.
Tan et al. (2021) pooled 75 studies and saw regression in about 30 % of ASD cases. Their wide age range could include VLBW babies, yet birth weight was rarely coded. The new data say: add birth history to future meta-forms.
Why it matters
When you see a client with ASD, flip to the birth page. If weight was under 1,500 g, plan extra checks on dressing, toileting, and peer play. Track these domains each quarter; they drift first. Share the number with teachers and OTs so everyone watches the same targets.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add birth-weight line to your intake form; flag <1,500 g and schedule quarterly adaptive probes.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess the distribution of parental age and birth weight in a large cohort with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to compare them to Israeli national data. (2) To examine possible relationships between these risk factors and functioning. METHODS: The study included 529 participants diagnosed with ASD using standardized tests: the Autism Diagnosis Interview-Revised and the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule (ADOS). Medical, developmental and familial histories (gender, age, pregnancy and birth information, parental ages) were obtained. Autism severity was assessed using the new ADOS severity scale and adaptive skill using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. RESULTS: Advanced parental age was associated with ASD. In the older age range the percentages of mothers (35-44 y) and fathers (30-40 y) were significantly higher in the ASD cohort in comparison to the Israeli newborn data. The ASD cohort had significantly higher percentages of low birth weight (<2500 g) and very low birth weight (VLBW<1500 g) in comparison to the Israeli newborn data. Of these risk factors, only VLBW was associated with lower adaptive functioning. The group with VLBW had lower scores in daily living, socialization and motor skills in comparison to the >1500 g group. Autism severity was not associated with advanced parental age or VLBW. CONCLUSIONS: The shift in parental age distribution and birth weight in our ASD cohort suggests that the increase in ASD prevalence in recent years might be associated with novel prenatal insults. An adverse fetal course resulting in VLBW may represent a "second hit" phenomenon, causing a poorer outcome.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2011.03.004