Children receive general screening for developmental delays and disabilities during regular pediatric visits at 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months. They also receive screening for autism spectrum disorder at 18 months and 24 months.
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Screening tools don’t diagnose autism, but they can help identify children and adults who might have ASD. A positive screening result indicates a person may need further evaluation or diagnosis from a healthcare professional.
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There are many different screening tools for autism spectrum disorder. Depending on a person’s age and setting, these may be parent-completed, self-administered, or administered by an early childhood educator, psychologist, or other healthcare professional. Here are some examples of screening tests for autism.
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Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
The M-CHAT, or M-CHAT-R (revised), is a questionnaire designed to assess children ages 16 to 30 months. It is parent-completed and asks a series of 20 questions about a child’s behavior. The results will indicate whether an evaluation by the child’s healthcare provider may be needed.
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Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)
The STAT is an activities-based assessment for children ages 24 to 36 months. It takes about 20 minutes to administer, and consists of 12 activities to assess important social and communicative behaviors, including play, imitation, requesting, and directing attention. The STAT is designed to be administered by providers who work with children and have experience with autism.
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The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) Tool
SACS is a screening method to assess behaviors characteristic of autism spectrum disorder for children ages 12 months through preschool. It is administered by an early childhood educator, psychologist, or other healthcare professional.
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Social Challenges Screening Questionnaire (SCSQ)
The SCSQ is a questionnaire to identify school-age children who may have symptoms that were previously characterized as Asperger’s syndrome (level 1 ASD). It consists of 15 questions and is completed by parents, educators, or medical professionals.
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Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Test
The AQ test is designed to measure traits of autism in teenagers and adults ages 16 and over. It is a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 50 questions.
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