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The Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders: Field-testing an autism-specific screening tool for
Amy M Wetherby1, Whitney Guthrie2, Jessica L Hooker1
1Florida State University, USA.
Insights
A new tool, the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders, shows promise for identifying autism spectrum disorder in young children aged 12-36 months. This parent-report screener can aid early diagnosis and intervention services.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial for timely intervention.
- Limited screening tools exist for toddlers aged 18-24 months.
- Developing accurate ASD screeners for very young children presents significant challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of a new autism-specific parent-report screening tool, the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders (ESACD).
- To assess the ESACD's effectiveness in children aged 12-36 months at risk for communication delays or ASD.
Main Methods:
- Field-testing of the ESACD with 471 children across five sites.
- Testing in three age groups: 12-17, 18-23, and 24-36 months.
- Comparison with best-estimate diagnoses of ASD, developmental delay, or typical development.
Main Results:
- Analysis identified 30 items that effectively discriminated ASD from non-spectrum conditions.
- Established age-specific cutoffs demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity.
- Preliminary data support the ESACD's accuracy in high-risk children aged 12-36 months.
Conclusions:
- The Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders shows preliminary support as an accurate autism-specific screener.
- The tool is suitable for children aged 12-36 months with elevated risk for communication delay or ASD.
- Further validation may enhance early detection and access to intervention services.
Lay Abstract:
There is a critical need for accurate screening tools for autism spectrum disorder in very young children so families can access tailored intervention services as early as possible. However, there are few screeners designed for children 18-24 months. Developing screeners that pick up on the signs of autism spectrum disorder in very young children has proved even more challenging. In this study, we examined a new autism-specific parent-report screening tool, the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders for children between 12 and 36 months of age. Field-testing was done in 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 tested 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. Analyses examined all 46 items and identified 30 items that best discriminated autism spectrum disorder from the non-spectrum groups. Cutoffs were established for each age group with good sensitivity and specificity. Results provide preliminary support for the accuracy 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.
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