Accelerated Head Growth Can Predict Autism Before Behavio...

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Accelerated Head Growth Can Predict Autism Before Behavioral Symptoms Start (Medical News Today)

Children with autism have normal-size heads at birth but develop accelerated head growth between six and nine months of age, a period that precedes the onset of many behaviors that enable physicians to diagnose the developmental disorder, according to new research from the University of Washington's Autism Center.

The study also indicates that this aberrant growth is present in children who have the early onset form of autism as well as those later diagnosed with the regression type of the disorder, according to Sara Webb, who led the research.

"We know there are a number of risk factors for autism, and if we can pinpoint them we have better ways of identifying children at risk so we can get them into prevention or monitoring," said Webb, a UW research assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

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Hmm. My children had fairly normal heads at birth, but WOW did they have big heads (I'm talking off-the-charts) within a few weeks to months.

I remember my head was pretty big when i was a kid... plus i was rail-thin so it kinda stood out more... I looked like charlie brown... or mr. mackey... mmmkay....

we need big heads to contain our freakishly vast intellects...

I read something on this a few months back... if I recall correctly they said the growth disparity evened out by adulthood. It was the pace and the type of tissue being produced that was different from the norm.