Rate and Risk Factors Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Doctors looked at children who were born with a hole in the diaphragm. This birth defect is called congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or CDH.

They checked how many of these children later received an autism diagnosis. The team also noted which kids had other delays like low muscle tone or speech problems.

Children who survive CDH have nine times the usual rate of autism. Delays in movement, speech, or thinking were the clearest warning signs.

Sparaci et al. (2015) already showed that any major birth defect raises autism risk. Enrico’s CDH numbers now give a firm size to that risk for one specific defect.

Atladóttir et al. (2015) found that sick newborns in general later show more autism. The new study tightens the lens to a single surgical group and still sees the jump.

Maeyama et al. (2018) link congenital CMV infection to an 11-fold autism increase. CDH gives a similar nine-fold jump, hinting that different early body insults can lead to the same outcome.

If you serve a child who had CDH repair, add autism screening to every visit. Watch for motor or language delays—they flag the highest risk. Early referral means earlier therapy and better long-term gains.