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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
Published on: March 27, 2012
Detecting, studying, and treating autism early: the one-year well-baby check-up approach
Karen Pierce1, Cindy Carter, Melanie Weinfeld
1Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA, kpierce@ucsd.edu
Insights
A 1-year well-baby check-up screen effectively identifies potential cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), language delay (LD), and developmental delay (DD). This approach offers a promising method for early detection and prospective autism research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Development
- Early Childhood Screening
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Early detection of developmental delays is crucial for timely intervention.
- Traditional screening methods may not be universally implemented at the 1-year well-baby visit.
- Identifying autism spectrum disorder (ASD), language delay (LD), and developmental delay (DD) early can significantly impact long-term outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using a broadband screen during the 1-year well-baby check-up.
- To determine the effectiveness of this screen in detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD), language delay (LD), and developmental delay (DD).
Main Methods:
- The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist was administered during routine 1-year pediatric check-ups.
- 137 pediatricians and 225 infants participated in the study.
- Screening failures were immediately scored and referred for further diagnostic evaluation.
Main Results:
- Over 10,000 infants were screened, with 184 failing and undergoing evaluation.
- Diagnoses included 32 ASD, 56 LD, 9 DD, and 36 "other" conditions.
- The positive predictive value for the screen was estimated at 0.75, with some initial ASD positives not meeting criteria at follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The 1-year well-baby check-up approach is a viable and simple method for detecting ASD, LD, and DD in infants.
- This screening strategy provides an alternative to the baby sibling design for prospective autism studies.
- Early identification through this method can enhance our understanding of autism development at a young age.
Objectives:
To determine the feasibility of implementing a broadband screen at the 1-year check-up to detect cases of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), language delay (LD), and developmental delay (DD).
Study Design:
The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist was distributed at every 1-year pediatric check-up; 137 pediatricians and 225 infants participated. Screens were scored immediately, and failures referred for further evaluation.
Results:
Pediatricians screened 10 479 infants at the 1-year check-up; 184 infants who failed the screen were evaluated and tracked. To date, 32 infants received a provisional or final diagnosis of ASD, 56 of LD, nine of DD, and 36 of "other." Five infants who initially tested positive for ASD no longer met criteria at follow-up. The remainder of the sample was false positive results. Positive predictive value was estimated to be .75.
Conclusions:
The 1-Year Well-Baby Check-Up Approach shows promise as a simple mechanism to detect cases of ASD, LD, and DD at 1 year. This procedure offers an alternative to the baby sibling design as a mechanism to study autism prospectively, the results of which will enrich our understanding of autism at an early age.
