While modern testing for autism isn’t flawless, it can encourage early detection. This can mean better support for autistic kids.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that affect communication, learning abilities, and social interactions. Symptoms of autism are sometimes diagnosed in adulthood, but ASD is a condition that someone is born with.

Early diagnosis can lead to helpful interventions and improved outcomes for autistic children. While it may not be possible to fully detect autism in the womb, there are certain prenatal tests that could indicate how likely your child is to develop it.

In short, no. There’s no definitive test that can detect autism in the womb. However, certain prenatal exams and genetic tests may point to an increased chance that a child could be born with ASD.

A recent study determined that a prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester of pregnancy could identify early signs of ASD. This study looked at hundreds of fetal anatomy ultrasounds and found specific differences in the head, heart, and kidneys of 30% of fetuses that later developed ASD. This is a rate 3 times higher than is typically found in fetuses from a general population.

The severity of these anatomical differences also seemed to correlate with the severity of ASD that later developed.

These findings are important as they offer measurable signs that could point to an increased chance of a child being born with ASD. The study findings also highlight the unique multiorgan differences that occur in the prenatal development of ASD.

Other prenatal tests that could indicate a higher chance of a child being born with ASD include:

  • Chromosomal microarray analysis: This genetic test can be done during pregnancy to look for small genetic changes. It’s commonly used to test for indications of autism and other genetic conditions. It can indicate a genetic predisposition for autism but does not guarantee that autism will develop.
  • Blood tests: There’s no standard blood test that can determine autism, but a recent study has developed a blood test that may be able to indicate a predisposition toward autism. The blood test analyzes certain metabolites that are unique to ASD. Metabolites are substances that are made or used when your body breaks down food or chemicals. This exploratory blood test accurately identified ASD in almost 95% of cases, but more research is needed before it becomes available.

While diagnostic tests are not currently able to diagnose autism before birth, developing research may be able to point out early signs of a predisposition toward ASD. This emerging ability toward early diagnosis could help autistic children get earlier interventions and possibly improve their future quality of life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism affects 1 in 36 children in the United States. Autism affects people in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

The odds of having a child with autism increase slightly with parental age. A recent report found that:

  • A 5-year increase in parental age is associated with a 9% increase in odds for ASD.
  • Parents between 25 and 30 years old have a less than 2% chance of having a child with ASD.
  • Females over 40 and males over 50 are at the highest risk of having a child with ASD.

It’s important to keep in mind that the odds of having a child with autism are still relatively low for parents of any age. These odds will vary greatly depending on several factors, including family history and possible genetic conditions.

The exact cause of autism is still unknown. However, several factors are believed to be associated with an increased chance of having a child with ASD.

These factors include:

Autistic infants and children can benefit from early interventions that may help them and their families better understand their unique needs and processing abilities. Specific treatments and therapies are available that can help children with ASD develop skills and manage challenges.

The characteristics of autism will vary greatly from child to child, and developing different management strategies at home will help your child and family function more successfully.

Some suggestions for supporting autistic children include:

  • having a consistent and predictable schedule
  • using positive reinforcement
  • avoiding making your child feel as though something is “wrong” with them
  • being patient with different treatments and techniques
  • making time for fun
  • exposing your child to everyday activities outside the home
  • getting support for yourself and your family

Support for families with ASD

Certain groups and organizations can help new parents of children with ASD understand the condition and offer strategies and resources to support autistic children.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that are present from birth and is usually diagnosed in early childhood. A child with ASD may have differences and challenges with communication, learning, and social interaction.

While there’s no definitive test to detect autism in the womb, a fetal anatomy prenatal ultrasound could identify a predisposition to autism. Prenatal genetic testing may also offer insight into a future ASD diagnosis, and a blood test is in development that could identify autism during pregnancy.

Being able to identify ASD in the womb could lead to stronger early interventions, support systems, and improved outcomes for autistic infants and children.