Effect of a Focused Social and Communication Intervention on Preterm Children with ASD: A Pilot Study.
Álvaro Bejarano-MartínRicardo Canal-BediaMaría Magán-MagantoAránzazu Hernández FabiánAndrea Luz Calvarro CastañedaSara Manso de DiosPatricia Malmierca GarcíaEmiliano Díez VilloriaCristina Jenaro RíoManuel Posada de la PazPublished in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders (2021)
While advances in intensive neonatal care have greatly improved survival rates among preterm infants, incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in this group is still high, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being one of the most frequent. To this end, we conducted a social-communication intervention aimed at investigating efficacy in social-communicative skills. Eighteen children (preterm and full-term with ASD and preterm children) aged 18 through 20 months participated in the study. Our findings indicate that most participants in the intervention groups registered significant improvements in terms of socio-communicative skills, cognitive development, and language. Accordingly, these pilot data underscore the need for further research and implementation of early interventions in young preterm children with ASD.
Keyphrases
- autism spectrum disorder
- low birth weight
- preterm infants
- healthcare
- gestational age
- randomized controlled trial
- preterm birth
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- young adults
- mental health
- intellectual disability
- primary care
- physical activity
- palliative care
- risk factors
- study protocol
- clinical trial
- artificial intelligence
- electronic health record
- big data
- health insurance