title: Evaluation of early childhood social-communication difficulties in children born preterm using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize early childhood social-communication skills and autistic traits in children born very preterm using the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) and explore neonatal and sociodemographic factors associated with Q-CHAT scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of children born before 30 weeks gestation and enrolled in a study evaluating routinely collected neurodevelopmental data between the post-menstrual ages of 20 and 28 months were invited to complete the Q-CHAT questionnaire. Children with severe neurosensory disabilities and cerebral palsy were excluded. Participants received neurodevelopmental assessments using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III). Q-CHAT scores of this preterm cohort were compared with published general population scores. The association between Bayley-III cognitive and language scores and neonatal and sociodemographic factors with Q-CHAT scores were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Q-CHAT questionnaires were completed from 141 participants. At a mean post-menstrual age of 24 months, the Q-CHAT scores of the preterm cohort (mean 33.7, SD 8.3) were significantly higher than published general population scores (mean 26.7; SD 7.8), indicating greater social-communication difficulty and autistic behavior. Preterm children received higher scores, particularly in the categories of restricted, repetitive, stereotyped behavior, communication, and sensory abnormalities. Lower Bayley-III language scores and non-white ethnicity were associated with higher Q-CHAT scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preterm children display greater social-communication difficulty and autistic behavior than the general population in early childhood as assessed by the Q-CHAT. The implications for longer-term outcome will be important to assess.
authors: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Hilary S
authors: HS
authors: Wong
authors: Neonatal Service, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Huertas-Ceballos
authors: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Frances M
authors: FM
authors: Cowan
authors: Section of Neonatal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Neena
authors: N
authors: Modi
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D057189:Checklist; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: ASD; Autism spectrum disorders; Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rdedition; Bayley-III; IMD; Index of multiple deprivation; M-CHAT; Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers; NNRD; National Neonatal Research Database; Q-CHAT; Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers