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Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes

Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order.

Citation:
Alvares GA, Licari MK, Stevenson PG, Bebbington K, Cooper MN, Glasson EJ, Tan DW, Uljarevic M, Varcin KJ, Wray J, Whitehouse AJO. Investigating associations between birth order and autism diagnostic phenotypes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2021;62(8):961-70.

Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis/epidemiology; Autistic Disorder; Birth Order; Phenotype; prospective Studies; Autism spectrum disorder; diagnosis; first birth; intellectual disability

Abstract:
Birth order effects have been linked to variability in intelligence, educational attainment and sexual orientation. First- and later-born children have been linked to an increased likelihood of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, with a smaller body of evidence implicating decreases in cognitive functioning with increased birth order.