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Babies born prematurely may have increased risk of ADHD

By Staff Writer

While previous research has indicated that babies born long before their due dates or those who have low birth weights are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics shows that infants who are delivered as little as three weeks prematurely may also have a high risk of the attention disorder.

According to the study's findings, babies who are born more than 10 weeks before their due dates are nearly three times more likely to suffer from ADHD than those born after 39 weeks in their mothers' wombs. Moreover, those who are delivered three weeks in advance have a 20 percent increased risk of developing the disorder.

The researchers noted that many caesarean births are scheduled a few weeks prior to mothers' due dates, which may play a role in the number of children who are delivered using this method that are diagnosed with ADHD. They recommended that these procedures be performed as close to the expected natural-birth date as possible to avoid this potential risk.

Kids who struggle academically due to attention problems may benefit from attending therapeutic boarding schools where qualified professionals can address learning disabilities.

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