How early do parent concerns predict later autism diagnosis?
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between parent concerns about development in the first year and a half of life and later autism diagnostic outcomes.


METHODS
Parent concerns about development were collected for infants at high and low risk for autism, using a prospective, longitudinal design. Parents were asked about developmental concerns at study intake and when their infant was 6, 12, and 18 months. Infants were then followed up until 36 months, when diagnostic status was determined.


RESULTS
By the time their child was 12 months, parents who have an older child with autism reported significantly more concerns in autism spectrum disorders-related areas than parents of children with typical outcomes. These concerns were significantly related to independent measures of developmental status and autism symptoms and helped predict which infants would later be diagnosed with autism or autism spectrum disorders. At 6 months, however, the concerns of parents who have an older child with autism do not predict outcome well.


CONCLUSIONS
Explicitly probing for parent concerns about development is useful for identifying children in need of closer monitoring and surveillance, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Ozonoff
Sally
S
M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. sally.ozonoff@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Young
Gregory S
GS
Steinfeld
Mary Beth
MB
Hill
Monique M
MM
Cook
Ian
I
Hutman
Ted
T
Macari
Suzanne
S
Rogers
Sally J
SJ
Sigman
Marian
M
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002657:Child Development; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D035781:Siblings; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors