Screen preterm infants for autism early

A focused public‑health policy: routinely offer validated ASD diagnostic assessment (not just screening questionnaires) for children born very preterm (e.g., <32 weeks) at earlier and repeated ages because pooled evidence shows a roughly 7% prevalence. Early targeted diagnosis could link high‑risk survivors to intervention, tailored schooling, and family supports earlier than current generic timelines. — Shifting screening policy toward preterm survivors would reallocate resources and change clinical/education priorities for a clearly identifiable high‑risk group.