TY - JOUR
T1 - To reduce the average age of autism diagnosis, screen preschoolers in primary care
AU - Zuckerman, Katharine E.
AU - Broder-Fingert, Sarabeth
AU - Sheldrick, R. Christopher
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends autism spectrum disorder screening at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits. However, despite widespread toddler screening, many children are not diagnosed until school age, and delayed diagnosis is more common among low-income and minority children. Offering autism spectrum disorder screening at preschool well-child checks might reduce disparities and lower the overall age of diagnosis and service initiation. However, screening tools that span the preschool ages and are tailored for primary care are needed. Lay abstract: Pediatric primary care providers check for autism signs, usually using a standard checklist, at 18- and 24-month well-child visits. When the checklist shows possible autism, children should be referred for additional treatment and evaluation with an autism specialist. However, many children with autism spectrum disorder are not detected as toddlers. Low-income and minority children are particularly likely to have a late autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Checking for autism at preschool-aged well-child visits might be one way to identify autism spectrum disorder earlier, especially for low-income and minority children.
AB - The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends autism spectrum disorder screening at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits. However, despite widespread toddler screening, many children are not diagnosed until school age, and delayed diagnosis is more common among low-income and minority children. Offering autism spectrum disorder screening at preschool well-child checks might reduce disparities and lower the overall age of diagnosis and service initiation. However, screening tools that span the preschool ages and are tailored for primary care are needed. Lay abstract: Pediatric primary care providers check for autism signs, usually using a standard checklist, at 18- and 24-month well-child visits. When the checklist shows possible autism, children should be referred for additional treatment and evaluation with an autism specialist. However, many children with autism spectrum disorder are not detected as toddlers. Low-income and minority children are particularly likely to have a late autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Checking for autism at preschool-aged well-child visits might be one way to identify autism spectrum disorder earlier, especially for low-income and minority children.
KW - autism spectrum disorders
KW - preschool children
KW - primary care
KW - screening
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U2 - 10.1177/1362361320968974
DO - 10.1177/1362361320968974
M3 - Article
C2 - 33126817
AN - SCOPUS:85094653064
SN - 1362-3613
VL - 25
SP - 593
EP - 596
JO - Autism
JF - Autism
IS - 2
ER -