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Two-minute questionnaire helps detect autism in toddlers
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The use of a 2-minute parental survey that includes questions regarding their child’s ability to respond to their name, gestures they use to get attention and language skills is effective in distinguishing which children may need further intervention for autism.
“Even though autism awareness is high in New Jersey and we have some excellent resources, too many children, especially from low-income communities, are identified late,” Walter Zahorodny, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics in the New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers University, said in a press release. “The availability of valid and efficient screeners, like the [Psychological Development Questionnaire-1], may enhance our ability to detect [autism spectrum disorder] in young children and expand the number of youngsters receiving early intervention.”
To analyze the use of the Psychological Development Questionnaire-1 (PDQ-1), the researchers conducted a study in which the assessment tool was compared with established autism scales and tested for its reliability. Additionally, the test-retest reliability was determined for the PDQ-1, and a risk threshold score was calculated.
A second phase of the study was conducted in which 1,959 toddlers were evaluated in many pediatric practices throughout a diverse metropolitan region using the PDQ-1. If children were determined to be positive using this tool, they were then referred for further diagnostic evaluation. All children were followed-up once they reached 4 years of age to establish whether cases of autism were missed by the screening tool. Zahorodny and colleagues then define the PDQ-1’s psychometric properties.
Of the 18- to 36-month-old children screened using the PDQ-1, children were determined to have autism who had previously not received professional intervention. The researchers observed in a low-risk population that the PDQ-1 had a positive predictive value of 91%, a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 99%. The questionnaire demonstrated efficacy through high specificity, good sensitivity and positive predictive value for children of all ages included in the study.
“Diagnosis of autism can only be accomplished through comprehensive evaluation by a professional,” Zahorodny said in the release. “Effective screening is but the first step toward diagnosis. If we want to improve early detection, easy-to-use and reliable autism screeners need to be widely used.” – by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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