Questionnaire screening for comorbid pervasive developmental disorders in congenitally blind children: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Congenitally blind children present unique diagnostic challenges.
• Accurate identification of pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) in visually impaired children is crucial for early intervention.
• Existing screening tools may require adaptation for this specific population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) in identifying PDDs in congenitally blind children.
• To compare the performance of teacher-completed versus parent-completed ABCs.
• To assess the reliability and validity of a modified ABC format for this clinical sample.

Main Methods:

• The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) was administered to 17 congenitally blind children by both teachers and parents.
• A subgroup of 4 children was identified with definite or likely PDDs via independent case review.
• The ABC was used in its original and a modified format.

Main Results:

• Teacher-completed ABCs demonstrated group differences and satisfactory test-retest reliability.
• The modified ABC, completed by teachers, accurately identified 3 out of 4 children with PDDs, with no false positives.
• Parent-completed ABCs did not yield significant group differences or reliable results.

Conclusions:

• Teacher-completed ABCs are valuable for detecting PDDs in congenitally blind children.
• A modified ABC format shows potential as a screening tool for identifying children with blindness and PDDs.
• Screening questionnaires can play a useful role in identifying subjects for further investigation.