The Autism Parent Screen for Infants: Predicting risk of autism spectrum disorder based on parent-reported behavior observed at 6-24 months of age.
A five-minute parent checklist at the 6-month well-baby visit spots ASD risk in high-risk siblings.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Cohen et al. (2018) asked parents to fill out a short checklist at regular 6-month check-ups. The form is called the Autism Parent Screen for Infants. It lists everyday baby behaviors parents can see at home. The team gave the form to families who already had one child with autism. They wanted to know if the checklist could spot the younger siblings who would later be diagnosed with ASD.
What they found
The checklist caught most babies who later received an ASD diagnosis. It also ruled out most babies who did not. Results were strong from 6 months onward. Parents could fill it out in under five minutes while waiting for the doctor.
How this fits with other research
Hampton et al. (2015) showed parents can flag ASD risk at 12 months. Cohen et al. (2018) pushed the same idea down to 6 months, giving families a head start. Shire et al. (2019) used a different parent form, the FYI 2.0, and also found good accuracy at 12 months. The new screen lines up with their work but is shorter and starts earlier.
Merin et al. (2007) used eye-tracking and saw risk signs at 6 months. The parent form matches those lab results but needs no cameras or travel. Together, the studies show 6-month warning signs can be seen by both machines and moms.
Why it matters
You can hand this one-page form to parents at the 6-month visit. If the score is high, you start the referral process months sooner. Earlier referral means earlier intervention and better long-term outcomes. No extra staff or gear is needed—just the waiting room clipboard you already have.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study examined whether a novel parent-report questionnaire, the Autism Parent Screen for Infants, could differentiate infants subsequently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from a high-risk cohort (siblings of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (n = 66)) from high-risk and low-risk comparison infants (no family history of autism spectrum disorder) who did not develop autism spectrum disorder (n = 138 and 79, respectively). Participants were assessed prospectively at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months of age. At 36 months, a blind independent diagnostic assessment for autism spectrum disorder was completed. Parent report on the Autism Parent Screen for Infants was examined in relation to diagnostic outcome and risk status (i.e. high-risk sibling with autism spectrum disorder, high-risk sibling without autism spectrum disorder, and low-risk control). The results indicated that from 6 months of age, total score on the Autism Parent Screen for Infants differentiated between the siblings with autism spectrum disorder and the other two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive validity of the Autism Parent Screen for Infants highlight its potential for the early screening of autism spectrum disorder in high-risk cohorts.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2018 · doi:10.1177/1362361316675120