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Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Profiles of Children Who Are Missed
Chloe Beacham1, Morganne Reid1, Jessica Bradshaw1,2
1Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.
Insights
A combined screening approach using the M-CHAT-R and ASQ-3 identified 93% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This method improves early detection of ASD in young children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Parent-report screeners like the M-CHAT-R and ASQ-3 are crucial for early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- However, some children with ASD may be missed by these individual screeners, necessitating further investigation into their characteristics and improved screening strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize children with ASD who were not identified by standard parent-report screeners.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined screening approach using the M-CHAT-R and ASQ-3 for ASD detection.
Main Methods:
- 154 children aged 16-42 months underwent ASD evaluations.
- Caregivers completed the M-CHAT-R, ASQ-3, and demographic questionnaires.
- Diagnostic assessments included the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (Mullen) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2).
Main Results:
- 81% of children were diagnosed with ASD (n=124).
- The M-CHAT-R identified 85% of ASD cases; missed cases showed higher Mullen and lower ADOS-2 scores.
- A combined M-CHAT-R and ASQ-3 communication domain screen identified 93% of children with ASD.
Conclusions:
- Children with ASD missed by individual screeners still exhibited developmental delays.
- A combined screening approach integrating the M-CHAT-R and ASQ-3 significantly enhances ASD identification rates in a clinical referral setting.
Objective:
To characterize children presenting with concerns for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) missed by parent-report screeners and to examine benefits of a combined screening approach with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3).
Methods:
Participants included were 154 children aged 16 to 42 months presenting for an evaluation at an autism center. Caregivers completed the M-CHAT-R, ASQ-3, and a demographic questionnaire. Children participated in an autism diagnostic evaluation consisting of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (Mullen) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2).
Results:
A total of 124 children (81%) were diagnosed with ASD. The M-CHAT-R identified 85% (n = 105) of these children. Children with ASD missed by the M-CHAT-R had significantly higher scores on the Mullen and significantly lower scores on the ADOS-2. Of the ASQ-3 domains, the majority (n = 102, 82%) of children with ASD failed the communication domain; missed cases showed similar patterns of higher Mullen scores and lower ADOS-2 scores. When adopting a combined screening approach, using a failed screen from either the M-CHAT-R or ASQ-3 communication domain, 93% of children were identified. Parent-reported concerns on an open-ended questionnaire revealed ASD red flags for many missed cases.
Conclusion:
Children with ASD missed by screeners had higher scores on developmental testing and lower scores on the ADOS-2; however, children still performed below average on developmental tests. Our findings suggest that a combined screening approach was most effective for identifying children with ASD from a sample group referred for an ASD evaluation.
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