Table 1.
ASD screening tools
| Screening tool (long name) | Short name | Admin. time (min) | Admin. age (months) | Admin. methodb | Items | Sensitivity | Specificity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1a | |||||||
| Checklist for Autism in Toddlers [16, 17] | CHAT | 5–10 | 18 | Parent + clinician rated | 9 + 5 | 0.18–0.38 | 0.98–1.0 |
| Social Communication Questionnaire [18] | SCQ | 15–20 | 36–82 | Parent rated | 40 | 0.74 | 0.54 |
| Modified-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers [19] | M-CHAT | 5–10 | 18–30 | Parent rated | 23 | 0.87 | 0.99 |
| Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers [20] | Q-CHAT | 5 | 16–30 | Parent rated | 25 | – | – |
| Communication and Social Behaviour Scale-Infant and Toddlers Checklist [21] | CSBS-DP | 5–10 | 16–30 | Parent rated | 24 | – | – |
| Early Screening Autistic Traits Questionnaire [22] | ESAT | 10 | 14–15 | Parent + child care worker | 14 | – | – |
| First Year Inventory [23] | FYI | 10 | 12 | Parent rated | 59 | – | – |
| Checklist for Early Signs of Developmental Disorders [24] | CESDD | Child care worker rated | 12 | ||||
| Autism Observation Scale for Infants [1] | AOSI | 10 | 6–1 | Clinician rated | 18 | 0.84 | 0.98 |
| Young autism and other developmental disorders checkup tool [25] | YACHT-18 | 10 | 18 | Clinician rated | 18 | 0.82 | 0.86 |
| The Social Attention and Communication Study [26] | SACS | 5 | 8, 12, 18, 24 | Clinician rated | 15 | 0.83 | 0.99 |
| Joint attention-observation schedule [27] | JA-OBS | 5–10 | 20–48 | Child Nurse Rated | 5 | 0.86 | – |
| Level 2a | |||||||
| Developmental Behaviour Checklist-primary care version [28] | DBC-ES | 5–10 | 18–48 | Parent rated | 96 | 0.83 | 0.48 |
| Screening tool for autism in 2 years old [29] | STAT | 20 | 24–35 | Child care worker rated | 12 | 0.83 | 0.86 |
| Screening for infants with developmental deficits and/or autism [30] | SEEK | 30–40 | 8 | Parent + clinician rated | 9 + 28 | – | – |
| Pervasive Developmental Disorders Rating Scale [31] | PDDRS | 60 | >12 | Parent rated | 51 | – | – |
| Autistic behavioural indicators instrument [32] | ABII | 30 | 24–72 | Clinician rated | 18 | – | – |
| Autism Behaviour Checklist [33] | ABC | 15 | >36 | Parent rated | 57 | 0.58 | 0.76 |
| Childhood Rating Scale [34] | CARS | 15–20 | >24 | Clinician rated | 15 | 0.92–0.98 | 0.85 |
| Autism detection in early childhood [35] | ADEC | 12 | 12 | Parent or nurse rated | 16 | 0.79–0.94a | 0.88–1.00a |
| Baby and Infant Screen for Children with Autism Traits [36–39] | BISCUIT | 15 | 17–37 | Parent rated | 42 | 0.84 | 0.86 |
| Three-item direct observation screen test [40] | TIDOS | 5 | 18–60 | Clinician rated | 3 | 0.95 | 0.85 |
aLevel 1 = population-based screening; level 2 = ASD specific screening tool after developmental delay risk confirmation at a routine developmental surveillance
bClinician = usually paediatrician or primary care physician