Early Detection of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

(from the chapter) Early detection is essential for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While much research has been conducted over the past 30 years that demonstrates the effectiveness of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) programs, these programs can only benefit those who have access to services. The detection of ASD is a necessary first step in diagnosis and subsequent EIBI treatment. The age at which ASD diagnosis is believed to be stable has become increasingly younger, with current estimates showing stability at 18 months of age. The dramatic increase in development of early screening tools over the past 10 years is encouraging. In this chapter, we discuss early detection of ASD and review the most commonly used assessment tools that have some published evaluations on their psychometric properties. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)