The Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders: Field-Testing an Autism-Specific Screening Tool for Children 12 to 36 Months of Age

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  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      12
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
      National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) (DHHS/NIH)
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DHHS/PHS)
      National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH)
    • Contract Number:
      RO1HD078410
      RO1HD065272
      R01DC007462
      U01DD000304
      ZIAMH002868
    • Subject Terms:
      Autism; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Screening Tests; Toddlers; Communication Skills; Communication Problems; Age Differences; Developmental Delays; Test Validity; Test Reliability; Child Development; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); At Risk Persons
    • Subject Terms:
      Florida; California (San Diego); Michigan; California; Maryland
    • Subject Terms:
      Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; Mullen Scales of Early Learning
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/13623613211012526
    • ISSN:
      1362-3613
    • Abstract:
      There is a critical need for validated screening tools for autism spectrum disorder in very young children so families can access tailored intervention services as early as possible. Few screeners exist for children between the recommended screening ages of 18-24 months. This study examined the utility of a new autism-specific parent-report screening tool, the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders for children 12-36 months. Field-testing was conducted from five sites with 471 children screened for communication delays in primary care or referred for familial risk or concern for autism spectrum disorder. The Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders was evaluated in three age groups: 12-17, 18-23, and 24-36 months. A best-estimate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, or typical development was made. Receiver operating characteristic curves were examined for all 46 items and the 30 items that best discriminated autism spectrum disorder from the non-spectrum groups. Area under the curve estimates for the total were greater than 0.90 across age groups. Cutoffs were established for each age group with sensitivity between 0.86 and 0.92 and specificity between 0.74 and 0.85. Results provide preliminary support for the validity of the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders as an autism-specific screener in children 12-36 months with elevated risk of communication delay or autism spectrum disorder.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2021
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1307779