A Review of Level 2 Parent-Report Instruments Used to Screen Children Aged 1.5-5 for Autism: A Meta-Analytic Update.

Hampton et al. (2015) pooled every study that tested Level 2 parent questionnaires for kids aged 1½–5.

They looked at five common screeners and asked: Do they really flag autism? They checked how many kids each tool correctly caught or missed.

Four of the five tools worked well. The key was strong social-interaction items.

Broad-band screeners worked just as well as autism-only ones if they asked about eye contact, pointing, and shared smiles.

Norris et al. (2010) had warned that GARS and ASDS miss too many cases. The new meta-analysis agrees and adds fresh data showing those tools still under-perform.

Strunz et al. (2015) found many screeners get translated without re-testing. Justin et al. show the same tools can work, but only if social items stay intact during translation.

Kremkow et al. (2022) moved beyond parent reports to tablet games. Their positive signals suggest future screens may blend parent questions with digital eye-tracking, building on the social-item lesson.

Pick a screener that asks about social play, not just language or routines. If you use a broad tool like ASQ, double-check it covers joint attention and pretend play. Before switching to a new culture or language, review the social items first—they drive the hit rate.