Previous research studies have found higher levels of the male hormone testosterone in the fluids of babies who are born with autism, thereby opening the way to a prenatal test for the disorder. Autism now affects one in 150 American children, with symptoms ranging from severe mental incapacity to mild social impairments.

Though the test promises to provide significant insights into fetal wellness, the procedure is not without it critics.

Autism expert Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor at Cambridge University, believes that terminating pregnancies based on such prenatal testing could lead to fewer people being born who are gifted in mathematics. Baron-Cohen explained that autism becomes more common at the extremes of math excellence.

Labels: autism, screening, prenatal

Posted By: Aspen Education Group