title: Detecting, studying, and treating autism early: the one-year well-baby check-up approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility of implementing a broadband screen at the 1-year check-up to detect cases of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), language delay (LD), and developmental delay (DD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist was distributed at every 1-year pediatric check-up; 137 pediatricians and 225 infants participated. Screens were scored immediately, and failures referred for further evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pediatricians screened 10 479 infants at the 1-year check-up; 184 infants who failed the screen were evaluated and tracked. To date, 32 infants received a provisional or final diagnosis of ASD, 56 of LD, nine of DD, and 36 of "other." Five infants who initially tested positive for ASD no longer met criteria at follow-up. The remainder of the sample was false positive results. Positive predictive value was estimated to be .75.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 1-Year Well-Baby Check-Up Approach shows promise as a simple mechanism to detect cases of ASD, LD, and DD at 1 year. This procedure offers an alternative to the baby sibling design as a mechanism to study autism prospectively, the results of which will enrich our understanding of autism at an early age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA, kpierce@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinfeld
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Desmond
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hazin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bjork
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002140:California; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008403:Mass Screening; D010372:Pediatrics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires