Phenotypic differences in individuals with autism spectrum disorder born preterm and at term gestation.

Gotham et al. (2015) looked at the kids with autism. They split them by birth timing: preterm (before 37 weeks) and term.

Doctors recorded seizures, sleep apnea, ADHD, and language level. They also noted sex to see if boys and girls differed.

Preterm boys with ASD had more medical troubles. They showed extra seizures, sleep apnea, and ADHD than term boys.

Preterm girls with ASD were different. They were more likely to stay nonverbal than term girls.

Wormald et al. (2019) saw no sex gap on the SRS-2 in high-functioning kids. The new study does find sex gaps, but it mixed IQ and added preterm history. The measures and kids differ, so both can be true.

Souza et al. (2023) review agrees: boys rack up repetitive moves, girls rack up epilepsy and ID. Katherine’s preterm data fit inside that bigger picture.

Van Cleave et al. (2018) show primary-care doctors can treat these extra conditions if a BCBA helps manage behavior during visits. Together the papers say: expect more medical needs in preterm ASD, and primary-care teams can handle them.

When you see a preterm boy with ASD, plan for possible seizures, sleep issues, and hyperactivity. Track those targets in your FBA and coordinate with medical providers. For preterm girls, assume language may be slower and start AAC early. Add medical flags to the behavior plan and you will cut surprises later.