title: Findings and implications of developmental screening for high-risk children referred to a tertiary developmental disability center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The primary goal of this article is to describe an intake process and results of screening for developmental and autism spectrum disorders in children referred to a tertiary center. A secondary analysis of abnormal screening results, demographic variables, and parental concerns of autism was conducted, along with a correlation analysis between developmental and autism-specific screening tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 379 children younger than 6 years were "prescreened" with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers or the Social Communication Questionnaire. Medical records were reviewed to identify demographic variables and parental primary concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In approximately 11% of participants who screened positive for autism, no parental concerns of autism were present. Medium effect size correlations were found between the failed autism screening tools and delays in two domains on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical implications are addressed concerning diligent use of developmental and autism-specific rating scales to identify children at risk.
authors.forename: Therese L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Melissa Lynne
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kupzyk
authors.forename: Candice M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lake
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Development; autism spectrum disorders; screening