Cross-cultural evaluation of the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC) in Mexico.
The Spanish ADEC-SP reliably flags autism in Mexican toddlers—use it as your Level 2 screener.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Hedley et al. (2010) tested the Spanish version of the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC-SP) in Mexico. They gave the 15-minute play-based screener to 115 toddlers and preschoolers. Some kids already had a PDD diagnosis; others were developing typically.
What they found
The Spanish ADEC-SP caught 17 of 18 kids with PDD. Sensitivity ranged from 79 % to 94 %. Specificity hit 88 %–100 %. In plain words: the tool rarely missed autism and almost never over-flagged typical kids.
How this fits with other research
Byiers et al. (2025) later used community interviews to adapt the Autism Spectrum Quotient for Latino families. Their work extends Darren’s cultural lens from toddlers to school-age kids and adds parent voices to the mix.
Tafolla et al. (2025) showed ADOS-2 scores stay the same whether you give the test in English or Spanish. This backs Darren’s finding that a straight translation can keep its measurement punch.
Magaña et al. (2013) found Latino teens and adults scored lower on repetitive-behaviour questions of the ADI-R. That looks like a contradiction—Darren saw no drop—but the difference is age: toddler play looks the same across cultures; teen interests may not.
Why it matters
If you screen Spanish-speaking toddlers, you can trust the ADEC-SP right now. No extra tweaks needed. Use it as your Level-2 screener after a failed M-CHAT. Pair it with bilingual ADOS-2 modules for a seamless Spanish assessment path.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
A Spanish translation of the Autism Detection in Early Childhood (ADEC-SP) was administered to 115 children aged 15-73 months in Mexico. In Phase 1, children with Autistic Disorder (AD), a non-Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) diagnosis or typical development were assessed with the ADEC-SP by a clinician blind to the child's diagnostic status. In Phase 2, a referred sample of children was assessed with the ADEC-SP, Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), and typically developing children were assessed with the ADEC-SP and CARS. Psychometric properties relating to validity and reliability were addressed. Sensitivity and specificity levels for the ADEC-SP ranged from .79-.94 and .88-1.00 respectively. In a subgroup of toddlers aged 19 to 36 months the ADEC-SP correctly identified 17 of the 18 children with a diagnosis of a PDD, and no child without a PDD diagnosis was misdiagnosed. The ADEC-SP shows promise as a Level 2 screening instrument for use in Mexico.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2010 · doi:10.1177/1362361309347676