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October 07, 2006
Premature Babies More Likely To Have ADHD
In a study done by Danish researcher, Dr. Karen Linnet, premature babies are 70% more likely to have ADHD if they are born from 34 to 36 weeks than full term delivered babies. The probability of having ADHD is almost triple if the baby is born before 34 weeks. This study was completed after using 30,000 children, which also showed a connection in a lower birth weight and a higher risk of having ADHD. This study was taken from the Danish National Register and 834 of the children had been born prematurely, while the rest of the children had not. The study is available for further review at the Archives of Diseases in Childhood.
Oddly enough, this was the first study to show a link to ADHD and premature babies born after 28 weeks. Previous studies have shown a link between ADHD and premature births, but the areas of concentration were the periods of gestations from 28 weeks or less.
Some of the other facts from this same study are:
-- Full term babies weighing 3lb 3oz to 5lb 5oz were up to a 90% chance more likely to have ADHD later on when compared to babies who were not born underweight.
-- Full term babies weighing 5lb 6oz to 6lb 6oz had a 50% higher risk
By: Margo Richter
Sources: MedicalNewsToday, Christian Nordqvist, Dr. Karen Linnet
Posted by margo1 at October 7, 2006 11:40 AM
Comments
Wow you hit the nail on the head about adhd and low birth weight. Isaac is proof of that..Keep up the good work. I'm proud of you.
Posted by: chatters at October 8, 2006 08:22 AM
Cynthia, I am sorry that you had to make a that decision. Now that researchers are finding information like this out, the future generations will be better equipped to make decisions with concrete information and not the "educated guess" from our doctors. I know that is not a comfort to you now, but that is some thing we can have to look forward to.
Posted by: Margo at October 16, 2006 08:40 AM
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