http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/parenting/fiveminute-questionnaire-identifies-subtle-signs-of-autism-in-oneyear-olds-2631957.html

By Richard Alleyne
Thursday April 28 2011

A five-minute questionnaire for parents is
accurate enough to diagnose autism in children as
young as one in three-quarters of the cases, claims study.
Researchers said the checklist, which could be filled out in the waiting room
of doctor’s surgery, could help catch the condition earlier and lead to more
effective treatment.
Identifying Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD) at an early age allows children to start treatment sooner, which
can greatly improve their later development and learning.
However, many studies show a significant delay between the time parents first
report concerns about their child’s behaviour and the eventual diagnosis, with
some children not receiving treatment until well after they have started school.
The checklist asked parents about the child’s use of eye gaze, sounds,
words, gestures, objects and other forms of age-appropriate communication.
Any child who failed the screen was referred for further testing and was
re-evaluated every six months until age of three.
Dr Karen Pierce, of the University
of California and colleagues, followed 10,479 infants screened at 137 GP
surgeries for much of their childhood.
Out of the infants, 184 failed the initial screening and received further
evaluation.
To date, 32 of these children have received a provisional or final diagnosis
of ASD, 56 of language delay, nine of developments delay, and 36 “other” –
totalling a positive predictive value of 75 per cent using the questionnaire.
“There is extensive evidence that early therapy can have a positive impact on
the developing brain,” said Dr Pierce.
“The opportunity to diagnose and thus begin
treatment for autism around a
child’s first birthday has enormous potential to change outcomes for children
affected with the disorder.”
The work was published in the journal of Paediatrics.

- Richard Alleyne

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