Screening for autism spectrum disorders in infants before 18 months of age

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges for children and families. An estimated one in 88 children in the United States are affected by an ASD. Early identification and intervention have been shown to improve outcomes for these children, and the routine well-child visit is a critical opportunity for pediatric health care providers to obtain developmental information relating to ASD identification. Although current recommendations suggest ASD screening at 18 and 24 months of age, research suggests that ASD-specific behaviors and delays emerge earlier in infancy. The purpose of this article is to identify key developmental tasks that can be assessed by pediatric primary care providers to determine increased risk for ASD in infants at nine, 12, and 15 months prior to formal screening for ASD at 18 and 24 months.