Screening for autism in older and younger toddlers with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers.
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) was used to screen younger (16-23 months) versus older (24-30 months) high- and low-risk toddlers. Refusal rates for follow-up interview showed no group differences, but parents of younger/low-risk children were more likely to refuse evaluation than parents of high-risk children. PPP for an ASD diagnosis was: younger/high-risk 0.79, older/high-risk 0.74, younger/low-risk 0.28, and older/low-risk 0.61, with PPP differing by age within the low-risk group. Most of the children in all groups, however, were diagnosed with a developmental disorder. Symptom severity generally did not differ among groups. Cognitive and adaptive measures showed minimal group differences. Therefore, older and younger toddlers had similar symptomatology and developmental delays; PPP for ASD is better at 24 than 18 months for low-risk children; however, these children are still highly likely to show a developmental disorder. Clinical decision making should balance early identification against the lower specificity of M-CHAT screening for the younger/low-risk group.
Pandey
Juhi
J
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA. juhi_pandey@hotmail.com
Verbalis
Alyssa
A
Robins
Diana L
DL
Boorstein
Hilary
H
Klin
A M I
AM
Babitz
Tammy
T
Chawarska
Katarzyna
K
Volkmar
Fred
F
Green
James
J
Barton
Marianne
M
Fein
Deborah
D
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires