Screening Detects Autism in Toddlers

Diana Robins, (’96)

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that manifests during the first years of life, yet many autistic children are not diagnosed until they are 4 years or even older. This presentation will use video examples to review the common behavioral manifestation of autism in toddlers, such as joint attention and pretend play. I will describe strategies used to detect toddlers with elevated likelihood of autism; conflicting guidelines for primary care professionals, often the only experts to see very young children; and how utility of screening tools is evaluated in research and practice, with emphasis on sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value. Using examples from the literature on the tool I developed, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F), I will discuss challenges and opportunities in early detection of autism.

Sponsored by the Psychology Department and the Alumni Office